and they have the nerve to say they don't think it was racially motivated, but hate crime or not there is still a dead young man going home in a coffin and a greaving family, while the 3 teens enjoy life.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080718/ap_on_re_us/immigrant_killing_students_2;_ylt=AsbYp.EVs1rJ0Tf9H6FMPRZQuk0A
An investigation continues, and no charges have yet been filed, but police say as many as six teens were involved in the fight, which ended with Ramirez in convulsions and foaming at the mouth. He died early Monday of head injuries.
Crystal Dillman, the victim's 24-year-old fiancee, who is white and grew up here, said Ramirez was often called derogatory names, including "dirty Mexican," and told to return to his homeland.
Retired Philadelphia police Officer Eileen Burke, who lives on the street where the fight occurred, told The Associated Press she heard a youth scream at one of Ramirez's friends after the beating to tell her Mexican friends to get out of Shenandoah, "or you're going to be laying next to him."
"People in this town are very racist toward Hispanic people. They think right away if you're Mexican, you're illegal, and you're no good," said Dillman, who has two young children by Ramirez and a 3-year-old who thought of him as her father.
Teenagers have sprayed racially tinged graffiti and yelled racial slurs at the newcomers, he said.
The Garcias said they heard the youths call Ramirez "stupid Mexican" and an ethnic slur.
Tags: