SYRACUSE — A 20-year-old Syracuse man was being held without bail Monday after a fatal shooting that police said might have been a hate crime.

Dwight DeLee, who is accused of killing 20-year-old Moses Cannon, was arraigned Monday on a single count of second-degree murder.

Police said it appeared Cannon, also of Syracuse, was targeted Friday night because he was gay and sometimes dressed as a woman.

“There was no previous argument between these individuals, there was no previous fight, there was no bad blood,” said Police Chief Gary Miguel.

“Our suspect took a rifle and shot and killed this person, also wounding his brother, for the sole reason he didn’t care for the sexual preference of our victim,” Miguel said.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Doran said the case was still being investigated to determine whether to pursue a hate crime charge.

A hate crime classification would increase the possible penalty against DeLee if he’s convicted, Doran said.

From the outset, Cannon’s family has said his death should be treated as a hate crime.

Family members said Sunday that DeLee’s arrest did not give them any comfort.

“I don’t understand ... they weren’t causing any trouble,” said Shaconia Williams, the victim’s sister. “You can put (DeLee) away for 1,000 years, and it’s not going to make up for what happened.”

Moses Cannon was living as a female and was known to family and friends as Latiesha Green. Police said he was not wearing women’s clothing Friday night.

“I’m hurt. Angry, upset. Mostly, I’m upset with society. How do we let our kids get this angry this young? This was hatred,” said Albert Cannon, the victim’s father.

Police said Cannon and his brother Mark Cannon, 18, were invited to a party by a friend Friday night.

When they pulled up to the party, several guests took issue with their arrival because the brothers were gay and started “making profane and vulgar comments in regards to the sexual preference of our two victims,” Miguel said.

DeLee went into the house and came back out with a 22-caliber rifle.

He aimed it at the driver’s side window and fired a single round.

The bullet grazed Mark Cannon’s arm and hit Moses Cannon in the chest.

Mark Cannon was able to drive home, where an ambulance picked the brothers up and took them to University Hospital.

Moses was later pronounced dead. Mark was treated and released.

DeLee fled the party after the shooting and police later found him at a home in Liverpool.

He was arrested early Sunday morning.

Officials did not return calls for information about whether DeLee has a lawyer.