Three white Schuylkill County young men are charged with the beating death of a Hispanic man nearly two weeks ago. All are from well-known families in Shenandoah and some are on the high school football team.
The death had racial tensions high in the Shenandoah are and people demanding that those responsible be brought to justice.
Friday a major break in the case came when those who police said committed the crime turned themselves in to authorities.
Brandon Piekarsky, 16, and Colin Walsh, 17, are charged with homicide. Their friend, Derrick Donchak, 18, is charged with a lesser offense of aggravated assault.
All are charged in connection with the beating death of Luis Ramirez of Shenandoah.
"There is no evidence to indicate that this was a premeditated, intentional act. This was a street fight that ended tragically. To charge these kids with an open court of homicide is unfounded," said defense attorney Fred Fanelli.
"Hopefully we can move forward and ease some of the racial tensions that's occurred in the borough of Shenandoah and throughout Schuylkill County as a result of this incident," said Schuylkill County District Attorney Jim Goodman.
Court papers indicate there were racial overtones to the beating of Luis Ramirez. All three are charged with ethnic intimidation.
"I want to emphasize that there can be no forms of prejudice against any ethnic group and any such crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Goodman added.
"Anytime you have one ethnic group fighting another there are going to be racial slurs but I have seen that since I was a kid on a playground 20 years ago but they never called it ethnic intimidation until recently," said defense attorney Roger Laguna.
According to court papers the three teens had been drinking but it's not known at this time what role that played in the beating death.
Court papers also state Ramirez was bullied into a fight and while he was on the ground he was punched and kicked. The three allegedly yelled racial slurs during the violence.
Ramirez died two days later in a hospital.
"I came back from the city. I moved here and I cannot believe there is so much hatred to do a beating like this," said Eileen Burke. She is a retired Philadelphia police officer and witnessed part of the beating. "What this did was brutal to me. It was brutal."
Ramirez was the father of three children. His fiance, Crystal Dillman, is planning a candlelight vigil in his memory.
"It feel good to actually contact his family in Mexico and not have bad news for them, even to contact our friends and family here and tell them that finally someone is going to be charged with this," Dillman said. She feels some peace.
"It's more of a relief that they're in jail, that they are not out on the streets so they could do this to someone else. Just that they pressed charges is a big relief to me," Dillman added. She vows to attend every court hearing to find out more about how her fiance died.
 Brandon Piekarsky |
Friday a major break in the case came when those who police said committed the crime turned themselves in to authorities.
Brandon Piekarsky, 16, and Colin Walsh, 17, are charged with homicide. Their friend, Derrick Donchak, 18, is charged with a lesser offense of aggravated assault.
All are charged in connection with the beating death of Luis Ramirez of Shenandoah.
"There is no evidence to indicate that this was a premeditated, intentional act. This was a street fight that ended tragically. To charge these kids with an open court of homicide is unfounded," said defense attorney Fred Fanelli.
Colin Walsh |
Court papers indicate there were racial overtones to the beating of Luis Ramirez. All three are charged with ethnic intimidation.
"I want to emphasize that there can be no forms of prejudice against any ethnic group and any such crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Goodman added.
"Anytime you have one ethnic group fighting another there are going to be racial slurs but I have seen that since I was a kid on a playground 20 years ago but they never called it ethnic intimidation until recently," said defense attorney Roger Laguna.
Derrick Donchak |
Court papers also state Ramirez was bullied into a fight and while he was on the ground he was punched and kicked. The three allegedly yelled racial slurs during the violence.
Ramirez died two days later in a hospital.
"I came back from the city. I moved here and I cannot believe there is so much hatred to do a beating like this," said Eileen Burke. She is a retired Philadelphia police officer and witnessed part of the beating. "What this did was brutal to me. It was brutal."
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"It feel good to actually contact his family in Mexico and not have bad news for them, even to contact our friends and family here and tell them that finally someone is going to be charged with this," Dillman said. She feels some peace.
"It's more of a relief that they're in jail, that they are not out on the streets so they could do this to someone else. Just that they pressed charges is a big relief to me," Dillman added. She vows to attend every court hearing to find out more about how her fiance died.
