( CNN ) -- A suspect has been arrested in the slaying of a 19-year-old Puerto Rican man found Friday decapitated , dismembered and partially burned , police said Tuesday . Members of the U.S. gay community are asking authorities to investigate whether the slaying was a hate crime because the victim , Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado , was gay , said Pedro Julio Serrano of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force . `` The brutality of the slaying and the fact that he was openly gay leads us to believe it was very possibly a hate crime , '' Serrano said . Authorities are investigating whether the killing involved sex , Guayama police Commander Hector Agosto Rodriguez told CNN affiliate WLII TV . Guayama prosecutor Jose Bermudez identified the suspect as Juan A. Martinez , 26 . Police had earlier described him as a 27-year-old man from the interior Puerto Rican town of Cayey . Martinez was scheduled to attend a court hearing Tuesday night at which charges would be lodged , said Luis Bernier , a spokesman for the Guayama police district , which has jurisdiction in the case . The hearing was postponed several times throughout the day . Officials were waiting for a prosecutor from a nearby district , causing the delay , Bernier said . The FBI was not directly involved in the investigation Monday , said FBI Agent Harry Rodriguez of the San Juan office . `` The FBI is monitoring this investigation by police in Puerto Rico , '' Rodriguez said . `` Any assistance that the police requests or requires , we would be more than happy to provide . '' Puerto Rican authorities may ask for help with forensics or other advanced investigative tools the FBI could provide , Rodriguez said . The U.S. attorney 's office , in consultation with local officials and other agencies , would determine if the slaying was a hate crime , which is a federal offense . `` It 's at a very preliminary stage , '' said Lymarie Llovet , a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney 's office in San Juan , Puerto Rico 's capital . Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory , which means federal agencies have jurisdiction . `` There 's the potential for a federal investigation , '' Rodriguez said . The suspect was arrested Monday around 11:30 p.m. AST ( 10:30 p.m . ET ) at his home in the Mogote de Cayey neighborhood , said Wilson Porrata Mariani , another spokesman for the Guayama police district . Police impounded two cars and also are investigating a home in another neighborhood , Huertas del Barrio Beatriz de Cidra . Lopez Mercado 's body was found on Puerto Rico Road 184 in another part of town , Barrio Guavate de Cayey , police said . The slaying has reverberated throughout the gay and lesbian community in the United States , where supporters started a Facebook page called `` Justice for Jorge Steven Lopez -- End Hate Crimes . '' The group demands an investigation by Puerto Rico Gov . Luis Fortuno and prosecution of the slaying under the Federal Hate Crimes Law . The law was enacted in 1969 to guard the rights of U.S. citizens engaged in any of six protected activities , such as voting , going to school , applying for a job or attending a public venue . Last month , President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr . Hate Crimes Prevention Act , which extends federal protection against illegal acts motivated by a person 's actual or perceived gender , sexual orientation , gender identity or disability . Gay activist Serrano said he does not believe anti-gay sentiment is any stronger in Puerto Rico 's Latin culture than anywhere else . `` That 's a long-debunked myth , that our culture is more homophobic , '' Serrano said . Instead , he attributed any ill will toward gays to `` hate rhetoric '' by some religious and political leaders . One politician , he said , recently referred to gays as `` twisted and mentally ill. '' `` That 's the kind of rhetoric that incites violence against gays , '' Serrano said . Equality Forum , an international gay , lesbian , bisexual and transgender rights organization , asked for a federal investigation . `` Equality Forum calls on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to have the FBI investigate , '' said former federal prosecutor Malcolm Lazin , the group 's executive director . `` The Matthew Shepard Amendment empowers and requires the federal government to prosecute this horrific murder . '' Serrano said Lopez Mercado was a `` very , very dear friend '' he had met through a mutual acquaintance . `` Jorge was a person who you only needed one minute to fall in love with , '' Serrano said . Lopez Mercado often volunteered for gay causes , Serrano said . The teen 's family is coping , considering the circumstances . `` It has been horrible , but they are very grateful that it has come to a quick resolution , '' Serrano said .
NEW : Activist attributes ill will toward gays to some religious , political leaders ' `` hate rhetoric '' Puerto Rican gay community wants police to see if slaying was a hate crime . FBI is monitoring investigation and is prepared to offer help , agent says . Suspect , 27 , was to attend Tuesday court hearing , which was postponed several times .