Police have identified three suspects in the brutal murder of a 30-year-old gay man, whose body was found in a park in Phoenix, Arizona on November 26.

The alleged killers – all of whom have confessed to being involved in the murder – shot Bernardo Pantaleon multiple times before mutilating his body with a knife. According to Arizona’s Family, his body was in such bad condition that police told his family they should not see him. 

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Court documents reveal that the crime was likely motivated by anti-gay hate. The documents stated that 21-year-old Leonardo Santiago told police he killed the victim because he made “an unwanted advance that made him uncomfortable.” 

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A state attorney added, “He ultimately shot the victim several times, killing him, leaving him, and returning an hour later with his codefendant Manuel Carrasco, who then mutilated the victim’s body.” Another man, 20-year-old Jose Rodriguez, has also been arrested for allegedly participating in the murder. 

Investigators also reportedly found texts between the three men in which they discussed plans to “rob and kill” Pantaleon, proving the murder was premeditated. 

And the nightmare for the family did not end there. On November 30, loved ones received two photos of Pantaleon’s body. One of them – which was also posted on Instagram –included the hand of a man holding up his middle finger to the camera. Police used the Instagram account to ultimately identify the suspects. 

The suspects are reportedly part of a gang whose members were discovered celebrating the murder on social media.

A GoFundMe page set up by the victim’s family said Pantaleon was “not just full of love, but the funniest, caring loving person you will come across.” 

“It was never a dull moment with him,” it continued. “Bernardo was the rock for his sibling after the loss of their parents. Unfortunately, we are mourning him as we have lost him in the most tragic way possible. “