Nov 11, 2008 6:12 am US/Eastern
7 L.I. Teens Charged In Racial Bias Killing
Suffolk Cops: Suspects' Own Words Show Motive, Led To Arrests In Murder Of Ecuadorian Immigrant Marcello Lucero
Commissioner: They Said 'Let's Beat Up Some Mexicans'
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 aq 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
It is a crime that has shaken Suffolk County to the core -- seven teenagers charged in a deadly act of hate.
The young men, who should have been in school Monday, instead were in court getting a lesson in crime and punishment as they have all been charged in a hate crime killing.
Authorities said the alleged killer -- a star wrestler and lacrosse player -- and six others set out to attack someone of Latino heritage in Patchogue over the weekend and, sadly, succeeded.
Led by the accused stabber Jeffrey Conroy, who is charged with first degree manslaughter as a hate crime, the seven teenagers from Medford and East Patchogue were taken together to arraignment court on Monday, all accused of gang assault while using racial slurs.
"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 Marcello Lucero, a 37-year-old supervisor of a dry cleaning business, 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. His companion escaped.
"To see these people what they did to my brother. I hope they stay in jail," said Joselo Lucero, the victim's brother.
Outside the victim's home Joselo Lucero described how Marcello came here from Ecuador 16 years ago and sent all of his earnings back home.
"He has a really good heart," Lucero said. "He helped the people."
The seven suspects all attended Patchogue-Medford High School. Their parents all came to arraignment court. Some were sobbing, while others angrily proclaimed their sons' innocence.
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.
Suffolk County Police said the immigration status of anyone who comes forward with information in this case will be ignored.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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