Brandon J. Piekarsky is one of four suspects in the fatal beating of Luis Ramirez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico. Piekarsky is accused of having kicked Ramirez in the head when he was already unconscious.ABC News: Pa. teens charged in fatal beating... (July 25, 2008) The incident took place on July 12, 2008, in the working-class Pennsylvania enclave of Shenandoah, where all three suspects played high school football.
Piekarsky was found guilty of one count of simple assault on May 15, 2009. The other charges were dropped.Republican Herald: Groups, officials hold news conference over hate crime bill (May 15, 2009)
Assault
According to police reports, the assault took place at night in a local park. The youths ordered Ramirez to leave the premises, making reference to his Mexican heritage. This sparked a fight, in which the assailants used ethnic slurs and Ramirez sustained fatal head injuries. Piekarsky's lawyer has called the incident a "street fight that ended tragically."ABC News: Pa. teens charged in fatal beating... (July 25, 2008)
References
Fast Facts
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Age
16 (at time of assault)
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Charges
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Fact:
Was tried as an adult
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Co-defendants
Colin Walsh, Derrick Donchak
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Fact:
Victim (deceased): Luis Ramirez, age 25
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Fact:
Brian Scully admitted his role in the fight and testified against the others
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Fact:
All four alleged assailants are white
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Fact:
Victim was Mexican
