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Police: Teen arrested in Hempstead Lake State Park stabbing

Police say they arrested an alleged gang member in connection with a stabbing attack that injured three teens last month in Hempstead Lake State Park. The suspect, Francisco Romero, 17, of Hempstead,

News 12 Staff

Jun 7, 2016, 1:23 AM

Updated 3,119 days ago

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Police say they arrested an alleged gang member in connection with a stabbing attack that injured three teens last month in Hempstead Lake State Park.
The suspect, Francisco Romero, 17, of Hempstead, is an MS-13 gang member, according to authorities.
As News 12 has reported, two groups of teens got into a violent brawl on May 23 that officials said involved knives and a machete. Three were stabbed.
Sources say one of the groups involved was with the MS-13 gang, while the other was with the 18th Street gang.
Romero was arraigned on felony assault charges and remanded without bail. He said nothing to reporters as he was escorted out of the courthouse, where he is expected to return on June 8.
According to court documents, Romero told police that he attacked the teens in the park but not with a machete. The documents quote Romero as saying in part, "The branch I used was dry and broke. When I hit the guy...I just hit him with my hands. I didn't use a knife." 
Police say they are seeking two other alleged MS-13 gang members in the attack.