It was an emotional day at the Schuylkill County courthouse Monday, inside and outside, as a district judge ruled there is enough evidence to send three teens to trial in connection with a deadly beating.
Brandon Piekarsky and Colin Walsh, Shenandoah Valley High School football players, and their friend, Derrick Donchak are charged in connection with the death of Luis Ramirez, 25. The Hispanic man died last month after witnesses said the three teens beat him in Shenandoah. Prosecutors are calling it a racially motiviated crime.
The district judge found there was enough evidence to send the case to trial. First and second-degree murder charges were dropped against Piekarsky and Walsh.
Before the hearing began a second charge was filed against Derrick Donchak. He is now accused of assault with a deadly weapon. Investigators said the weapon was something similar to brass knuckles.
As the court proceedings went on inside the courthouse, outside was a protest in the parking lot.
About two dozen people showed up at the courthouse Monday morning to say they want justice for Luis Ramirez and his fiance from Shenandoah.
Emma Lozano came all the way from Chicago. "That's why we're here. We're here to say the hate's got to stop. We're here to battle the hate, not to battle individuals or a race or a color of people, just the hate," Lozano said.
She added even though she's from Chicago, she's aware of a racism problem in Schuylkill County.
"The minute I learned about the incident I was very saddened and I wanted to do something to make sure that justice was served," said Agapito Lopez of Hazleton.
"The hated, the hatred in people. We have to stop hating each other. We have to stop hating each other, my God," said Anna Arias of Hazleton.
Teresa Gutierez said she is an advocate for immigrant and worker rights. She came from New York City to be part of the courthouse protest.
"No one has the right to be judge, jury and executioner on the streets of this country, no matter of legal status of any Latino or other immigrant," Gutierez said.
There was one tense moment when Debbie Rabold of Effort stepped up, waved her passport in the air, and told the protestors Ramirez had no business being in the United States.
"Our tax dollars should be supporting us and the services for us, not for illegal people who shouldn't have been in this country in the first place," Rabold said.
Courthouse security stepped in to make sure Rabold and the protestors kept their distance.
"They're out there yelling 'No Justice, No Peace.' That's a declaration of war, buddy. No justice, no peace. If our system doesn't do what you want it to do, you're going to declare war?" asked Laura Kryzanowsky of Pottsville.
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The district judge found there was enough evidence to send the case to trial. First and second-degree murder charges were dropped against Piekarsky and Walsh.
Before the hearing began a second charge was filed against Derrick Donchak. He is now accused of assault with a deadly weapon. Investigators said the weapon was something similar to brass knuckles.
As the court proceedings went on inside the courthouse, outside was a protest in the parking lot.
About two dozen people showed up at the courthouse Monday morning to say they want justice for Luis Ramirez and his fiance from Shenandoah.
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She added even though she's from Chicago, she's aware of a racism problem in Schuylkill County.
"The minute I learned about the incident I was very saddened and I wanted to do something to make sure that justice was served," said Agapito Lopez of Hazleton.
"The hated, the hatred in people. We have to stop hating each other. We have to stop hating each other, my God," said Anna Arias of Hazleton.
Teresa Gutierez said she is an advocate for immigrant and worker rights. She came from New York City to be part of the courthouse protest.
Protestors were on hand for the start of the preliminary hearing for three teens charged with Luis Ramirez's death. |
There was one tense moment when Debbie Rabold of Effort stepped up, waved her passport in the air, and told the protestors Ramirez had no business being in the United States.
"Our tax dollars should be supporting us and the services for us, not for illegal people who shouldn't have been in this country in the first place," Rabold said.
Courthouse security stepped in to make sure Rabold and the protestors kept their distance.
"They're out there yelling 'No Justice, No Peace.' That's a declaration of war, buddy. No justice, no peace. If our system doesn't do what you want it to do, you're going to declare war?" asked Laura Kryzanowsky of Pottsville.
