Nov 11, 2008 8:55 am US/Eastern
Issues Of Race & Hatred Take Center Stage On L.I.
Commissioner: Group Of 7 Teens Were On Mission 'To Beat Up Some Mexicans'
Alleged Hate-Crime Intensifies Debate Over Race Relations
Reporting
Jay Dow
PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Seven high school students from Patchogue and Medford are in serious trouble, accused of participating in a racial bias attack that left a 37-year-old Ecuadorian immigrant dead.
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Marcelo Lucero, 37, was stabbed to death in what police believe to be a "brutal murder motivated by racial bias."
CBS
The superintendent of Patchogue-Medford schools has added security guards to the district in response to the growing tension from a horrific hate-crime that has captured national attention.
Race and hatred; two issues now front in center in Patchogue. The question from angry members of the Hispanic Community: Why did seven teenagers apparently think it was acceptable to go out and hunt down a Latin American man to beat up and leave for dead?
"It comes from home. That's the parents…they have to teach the kids how to live in this society," said neighbor Angel Borja.
Joselo Lucero says his brother, 37-year-old Ecuadorian immigrant Marcello Lucero - a dry cleaner supervisor for the last 16 years - ultimately paid the price for what's being described as a pervasive ignorance infecting the community.
Police say the seven teenagers accused - including 17-year-old Jeffrey Conroy and 17-year-old Jose Pacheco, who is Hispanic himself, drove around town Saturday night with one goal in mind.
"The motivation was to find Latinos and assault them," said Suffolk County Homicide Det. Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick.
Added Suffolk Police Commissioner Richard Dormer: "The conversation began, 'Let's beat up some Mexicans.' Seven of them climb into a vehicle and drive to Patchogue."
Fitzpatrick and Dormer detailed what they called the horrible, unforgivable bias crime of hate that left Lucero dead of stab wounds outside his friend's house. Police spray painted where they say the hardworking and responsible victim staggered and bled after being set upon.
Detectives say Conroy delivered the fatal blow, stabbing Lucero in the chest.
One of the suspects, 16-year-old Christopher Overton, has a serious prior arrest. He pleaded guilty to burglary in another fatal attack, in May 2007, cooperated, and was awaiting sentencing.
"[The families] ask that we hold off on passing judgment until we know what each of these young boys did," said Anthony Lapinta, Overton's attorney.
Meanwhile, the police commissioner is asking the Hispanic community for help, saying these seven may have struck before.
"We want to find out if there are any more incidents that involved this group," Dormer said.
Some leaders in the Hispanic community said there's blood on the hands of the county executive for fueling an atmosphere of hatred of Hispanic immigrants, a charge Suffolk County leaders denied. Police said reported bias crimes against Hispanics are down.
CBS 2's Jay Dow and Jennifer McLogan contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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