After their son was shot and killed, one Louisiana family is asking the FBI to get involved with the investigation, believing his death was a hate crime.

Ja’Quarius Taylor was shot in the head near a lake in Washington Parish in southeastern Louisiana on the morning of January 12, reports LGBTQ Nation. Someone was at the lake, which is not far from Taylor’s home, to check water levels when they found Taylor’s body and called 911. His mother noticed he was missing and had called the police just an hour before. 

Taylor, a senior at Varnado High School, was gay. His family believes that because of Taylor’s sexual orientation and race, his death was an anti-gay, anti-Black hate crime and is asking the federal government to get involved. 

“We hope the FBI will get involved because of the perceived conflicts of interest and family relations the local sheriff may have,” they said in a statement. “We’re looking at this as a hate crime based on the race and sexual orientation of Ja’Quarius Taylor.” 

According to a statement released by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, Taylor’s death is being investigated as a homicide and, if deemed necessary with appropriate evidence, will be investigated as a hate crime. The office said local, state and federal investigators are working to solve the case and have devoted all resources to this investigation. 

“Somebody knows what happened,” said Uratha Bonner, Taylor’s aunt.

According to the family’s attorney, they are not satisfied with how the local authorities have handled the investigation. 

"The family has a legal team to help ensure a full, fair, and just investigation is happening. We hope the FBI will get involved because of the perceived conflicts of interest and family relations the local sheriff may have,” Pastor Ken Owens told WWLTV. “We're looking at this as a hate crime based on the race and sexual orientation of Ja'Quarius Taylor. We just want justice."

The FBI said they are aware of Taylor’s death and will become involved if the police find evidence of “a potential federal civil rights violation.”

Last week, a dive team from St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office foraged the bottom of the lake and found a significant piece of evidence in the lake near which the teen’s body was found, but the office has not affirmed what that evidence was, reports Fox 8. The evidence is being processed by a federal law enforcement crime lab. 

“We have reached out to our law enforcement partners on the local, state and federal levels,” said Sheriff Randy Seal. “Our intent is to leave no stone unturned as all agencies work together to solve this senseless murder.” 

Seal asked everyone to be patient while they try to solve the case. 

“I didn’t believe it at all because I don’t know who would do it to Jay D,” Taylor’s classmate Darrius Harry said. “He was innocent and cool with everybody.”

No arrests have been made, but a $5,000 reward has been offered for any information that could lead to a suspect. Those with information can contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 to leave an anonymous tip.