DENVER , Colorado ( CNN ) -- A Colorado man was convicted of first-degree murder and a bias-motivated crime and sentenced to life in prison for killing a transgender teen he met on an online social networking site . Allen Andrade was convicted of first-degree murder and a hate crime in the slaying of a transgender teen . It was the first time in the nation that a state hate crime statute resulted in a conviction in a transgender person 's murder , the advocacy group Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said . Seated in the front row of the courtroom , the family of Angie Zapata broke out in tears as the verdicts against Allen Andrade were read Wednesday . The jury deliberated for just under two hours before returning the verdict shortly after 3 p.m. Watch Andrade listen to the verdict » . `` I lost somebody so precious , '' said Maria Zapata , the victim 's mother . She glanced at Andrade and continued : `` The only thing he ca n't take away is the love and the memories that I have of my baby . My beautiful , beautiful baby . '' Andrade spoke just one word . `` No , '' he said when asked if he wished to address the court . Judge Marcelo Kopcow then imposed the mandatory sentence for the first-degree murder conviction -- life in prison without parole . Watch Andrade get sentenced to life without parole » . The verdict was hailed by gay and transgender rights groups . `` This is a landmark decision , '' said Mindy Barton , the legal director of the Gay , Lesbian , Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado . Barton attended the trial daily . `` Hearing 'guilty on first-degree murder ' and 'guilty of bias-motivated crime ' was a hugely emotional experience for all the family , friends and the supporters of Angie , '' Barton added . `` She will not be forgotten . '' Andrade admitted killing Zapata , but his defense argued that he acted in the heat of passion after discovering that Zapata was biologically male . The defense asked for a lesser verdict , such as second-degree murder or manslaughter . Throughout the trial , prosecutors referred to Zapata as `` she , '' while the defense referred to the transgender teen , who was born Justin Zapata , as `` he . '' `` When [ Andrade ] met him , he met him as 'Angie , ' `` defense attorney Annette Kundelius argued on Wednesday . `` When he found out it was n't 'Angie , ' that it was 'Justin , ' he lost control . '' But the jury rejected the argument , deciding in favor of prosecutors , who argued that Andrade knew Zapata was biologically male and that knowledge motivated the crime . `` This was an ambush attack , '' said Chief Deputy District Attorney Robb Miller . `` This was an all-out blitz . '' Zapata was `` born in a boy 's body but living as a female , '' added Miller . `` Ultimately , she was murdered because of it . '' The case has become a rallying point for supporters of the transgender community , who have held vigils and launched Web sites in remembrance of Zapata . They are calling for the inclusion of transgender people in hate crime statutes across the country and at the federal level . Currently , 11 states and the District of Columbia recognize transgender people in their hate crime laws . According to prosecutors , Zapata , 18 , and Andrade , 32 , met online in summer 2008 and arranged to meet . Zapata brought Andrade to her apartment in Greeley , Colorado , where they spent nearly three days together . According to a police affidavit , Zapata was out of the apartment when Andrade noticed photographs that made him `` question victim Zapata 's sex . '' Andrade confronted Zapata , who declared , `` I am all woman . '' Andrade then grabbed Zapata and discovered male genitalia . According to court records , Andrade told police he began hitting Zapata with his fists , knocking her to the ground . He then grabbed a fire extinguisher and twice hit her in the head . Andrade told police he thought he had `` killed it , '' referring to Zapata , and covered her with a blanket . Realizing what he had done , he then cleaned up the crime scene , the affidavit said . Andrade told police he heard `` gurgling '' sounds coming from the victim and saw Zapata sitting up . He hit her again with the fire extinguisher , he said , according to the affidavit . Andrade took Zapata 's car and fled . Police discovered the car two weeks later and arrested Andrade . The jury heard jailhouse phone conversations , including Andrade telling a girlfriend `` gay things must die . '' He did not testify in his own defense . Zapata was 16 when she adopted the name `` Angie , '' and made the decision to live as a woman .
Allen is guilty of murder , bias crime in victim 's memory . 2018 : Case is first conviction in nation for transgender hate crimes . Case has been closely watched by transgender rights groups .