Nov 11, 2008 7:01 pm US/Eastern
Second L.I. Hispanic Resident Alleges Gang Attack
Carlos Orellana Says Group Of 10 Young Teens Punched, Kicked Him And Uttered Racial Slurs About 3 Months Ago
Hispanic Group To Sue Parents Of 7 Suspects In Lucero Killing
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.
CBS
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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
On Tuesday night CBS 2 HD heard from another Suffolk County resident who says he was assaulted by a pack of young teens ... possibly because of his ethnicity.
Carlos Orellana, a 39-year-old construction worker originally from Equador, said the gang assault occurred not far from his Patchogue home off Maple Avenue nearly three months ago -- and that he went straight to Suffolk police.
Orellana said he was punched and hit and subject to racial slurs by members of the gang. He said at least 10 people jumped all over him and beat him up.
On Tuesday, Orellana, along with the victim's brother and sister, were among those protesting the hate crime stabbing death of Marcello Lucero. Orellana said the seven teens arrested and charged with gang assault in that case looked familiar.
The group Hispanics Across America announced they will sue the seven teens and their parents.
"To go after the parents, to make sure the parents of the seven kids pay the consequences of the death of Mr. Lucero," said Fernando Mateo of Hispanics Across America.
Hispanic leaders were critical of some Suffolk politicians for allegedly demonizing the immigrant community, a charge those lawmakers deny.
But parents of the suspects, some neighbors and lawyers paint a different picture of the teens -- all students at Patchogue-Medford High School, saying two of them have Hispanic roots.
"It certainly casts some doubt on whether this was a bias attack or a hate crime," attorney Steven Politi said.
As part of its lawsuit, Hispanics Across America will charge that parents have a moral responsibility that goes far beyond providing shelter and food for children, and that parents must instill values.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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