Man Charged in Gay Mississippi Candidate's Death

Mayoral hopeful Marco McMillian (left) and his accused killer, Lawrence Reed

A man has been charged with the murder of gay Clarksdale, Miss., mayoral candidate Marco McMillian.

The Coahoma County Sheriff's Department released a statement Thursday saying Lawrence Reed, 22, of Shelby, Miss., was charged in the death of McMillian, 34, reports USA Today.

McMillian’s body was found near the Mississippi River Wednesday. Police considered him missing after his SUV, driven by Reed, collided with another vehicle Tuesday. McMillian was not in SUV.

The sheriff’s department did not release information on the cause of McMillian’s death or any theories about a motive, although the county coroner said he believed politics was not a factor.

McMillian was one of four Democrats seeking the Clarksdale mayoral nomination and “was considered one of the first viable openly gay office-seekers in the state,” USA Today notes.