People file past the open casket bearing the body of Marcello Lucero as a man hugs the victim's brother, Joselo Lucero, in the Congregational Church of Patchogue, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 in Patchogue, N.Y. Seven high school students have been arrested in connection with Lucero's death. Police say that they were looking "to beat up some Mexicans" and attacked the immigrant from Ecuador on a street, with one of them fatally plunging a knife into the man's chest during the brawl.
November 8, 2008. A young Ecuadorian, walking with a friend after a day of work, looking forward to a cold beer and TV with friends, is confronted by a gang of young punks, out for a night of “beaner bashing”. Something they do for the “sport of it”, several times a week.
Jeffrey Conroy, Jordan Dasch, Anthony Hartford, Nicholas Hausch, Christopher Overton, Jose Pacheco and Kevin Shea, all between the ages of 16 and 17 all Patchogue-Medford High School students. The young punks had attacked before. They went out a dozens of times a year hunting Latinos, harassing them, shooting them with pellets, beating them. The others took the beatings and survived. Marcello Lucero did not.
Marcelo Lucero, 38, who moved to Patchogue LI NY 15 years ago, enjoyed volleyball, weightlifting, chilling with friends, knew the climate of hate towards Hispanic immigrants, but probably never imagined it would visit itself on him that Saturday night in November.
Marcelo Lucero fought back and it cost him his life. His friend survived.
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