7 teens charged in fatal Patchogue hate crime

Seven teens were charged Monday for their alleged roles in what prosecutors call a fatal gang assault.Police say the teens attacked and killed 37-year-old Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero Saturday

News 12 Staff

Sep 2, 2009, 2:15 PM

Updated 5,485 days ago

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Seven teens were charged Monday for their alleged roles in what prosecutors call a fatal gang assault.Police say the teens attacked and killed 37-year-old Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero Saturday on Railroad Avenue and Stephen Street in Patchogue. According to prosecutors, the teens went out looking for a Hispanic man to attack in what they called ?beaner jumping.?
Investigators say the group surrounded Lucero and yelled racial epithets. The teens were determined not to let him get away because they had attempted to attack someone once before, but that person escaped, according to prosecutors. Lucero was with a friend, however, who did manage to get away.
Lucero was stabbed in the chest and died from his injuries.
Prosecutors say Jeffrey Conroy, 17, of Medford, was the individual who eventually stabbed Lucero and left him to die. He was charged with manslaughter. Those charged with gang assault are:
?Jordan Dasch, 17, of 5 Lyndsie Court, Medford?Anthony Hartford, 17, of 94 Greenport Ave., Medford?Nicholas Hausch, 17, of 36A Middle Island Ave., Medford?Christopher Overton, 16, of 9 Yacht St., East Patchogue?Jose Pacheco, 17, of 244 Hospital Road, East Patchogue?Kevin Shea, 17, of 301 Jamaica Ave., Medford
Conroy was ordered held without bail. The judge also denied a request by Conroy?s attorney to place his client into protective custody.Click for more about the victimClick for reaction to the murder from the community
To see an extended interview with Lucero's brother, go to Channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.
AP wire reports contributed to this article.