November 14th, 2008 – Patchogue, Long Island

A brutal hate crime was committed in Patchogue, Long Island on November 8, 2008, when a 37-year-old immigrant named Marcello Lucero was ruthlessly beaten and stabbed to death by a group of teenagers who thought he was Mexican.  "The teenagers were playing in a park and came up with the idea of looking for 'Mexicans' to beat up," said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer.  Not finding any close by, the teens piled into their car and drove around to find some.  They eventually found Lucero and a friend at the Long Island Rail Road Station.  Lucero's friend escaped and called the police, but the seven teenagers beat and stabbed Lucerountil he died.  Six of the teenagers face charges of assault and a first-degree hate crime.  The teenager alleged with stabbing Lucero faces charges for manslaughter and a first-degree hate crime.  All seven teenagers are under 18.