Shenandoah, Pa. Teens Acquitted of Mexican Immigrant's Murder

The Associated Press 13 comments An all-white jury on Friday acquitted two Pennsylvania teenagers of all serious charges against them stemming from the fatal beating of an illegal Mexican immigrant last summer.

[Disgusted]

As a child of parents born and raised in the Shenandoah area it is extremely discerning to somehow relate to such a tragic event. I was not raised in the area, though due to the majority of my relative still remaining local visit it quite often. My dad was in the Army and my parents left everything they knew and traveled all over the world. I can not imagine what kind of upbringing it would take to commit such a hateful crime. I currently live in Atlanta and to think what would happen if they would come down here with that kind of mindset. I was appalled that they did not move the case to another location for jury selection. The town is too small, and not diverse enough. Especially for a case where it is a possible hate crime and the majority race (white) is about 96% according to a census another news organization posted. It hurts me especially when my grandparents from there visit me and immediately call anyone who looks Hispanic a Mexican. I have had verbal arguments with them about how it is politically incorrect. Granted the man was a Mexican, it just shows the ignorance to other ethnicities. The lack of diversity in the area is what drives the fear of the unknown. I would just like to take those boys and show them what the world is REALLY like for they have no idea. Because of their ignorance children are now fatherless. How can you deny that this was a hate crime? If there was some other motive it would have been stated. Can't wait till the Department of Justice overturns the acquittal. A news clip of family members leaving the court showed people rejoicing saying they were glad the jury listened. Are they forgetting that the boys were still charged with battery? They did something wrong, a man died and they are celebrating! I read another article where they referred to the boys as kids. An 18 year old is an adult last time I checked.

[oregn]

It's ok, that's how people in the North are.

[Voltaire 1932]

It appears that the OJ Simpson jury has moved to PA.

[Outraged]

This is incredibly outrageous, especially the fact that friends and family were rejoicing, its sickening. They are in denial that these guys murdered a human being, this my friends is what you call racism.

[bad billy]

wow this is sad how they kill a guy and they get simple assault at least manslaughter because i'm sure the kids didnt mean to kill but wanted to hurt him pretty bad though

saddam would of gave more justice

welcome to fallujah

[Sandra]

This is worse than the O.J. trial because the teenagers admitted that they were the cause of his death.

[t man]

I never thought I'd live to see this day. It seems that it is legal to kill immigrants in this town. There are no words to describe this verdict aberration, shameful, no words can describe this disregard for the American justice system.
Only in America

[Swankman 1]

The jury in the deliberation room decided that two of their fine white football players had already entered guilty pleas because of this worthless Mexican, isn't that enough? What a revolting racist cesspool Shenandoah must be. You know what they say about Pennsylvania, there's Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in the middle.

[The Eyes of Texas]

The jury sent a message that it is perfectly ok to murder a man because of his race, ethnicity, and immigration status. Afterall, these teens were members of the football team...how could they be guilty...?

[Justice]

Disgusted wrote:

As a child of parents born and raised in the Shenandoah area it is extremely discerning to somehow relate to such a tragic event. I was not raised in the area, though due to the majority of my relative still remaining local visit it quite often. My dad was in the Army and my parents left everything they knew and traveled all over the world. I can not imagine what kind of upbringing it would take to commit such a hateful crime. I currently live in Atlanta and to think what would happen if they would come down here with that kind of mindset. I was appalled that they did not move the case to another location for jury selection. The town is too small, and not diverse enough. Especially for a case where it is a possible hate crime and the majority race (white) is about 96% according to a census another news organization posted. It hurts me especially when my grandparents from there visit me and immediately call anyone who looks Hispanic a Mexican. I have had verbal arguments with them about how it is politically incorrect. Granted the man was a Mexican, it just shows the ignorance to other ethnicities. The lack of diversity in the area is what drives the fear of the unknown. I would just like to take those boys and show them what the world is REALLY like for they have no idea. Because of their ignorance children are now fatherless. How can you deny that this was a hate crime? If there was some other motive it would have been stated. Can't wait till the Department of Justice overturns the acquittal. A news clip of family members leaving the court showed people rejoicing saying they were glad the jury listened. Are they forgetting that the boys were still charged with battery? They did something wrong, a man died and they are celebrating! I read another article where they referred to the boys as kids. An 18 year old is an adult last time I checked.

Thank you Disgusted, I'm glad to hear some diversity here. A life was taken and they rejoice over this because they get to take their boys home? This is murder and they get away with it? I surely hope I see justice with all concerned, soon. And I ask these families is this what makes America so great?

[miss jambos]

What those boys did was terrible and i agree with the statements that the jury should not have been all white and that the trail should have been held elsewhere.

However, doesn't anyone see the hypocrisy in any of these posts? judging people on there ethnicity or judging people on there geographic location (Pennsylvania) is all the same thing.

While there is racism in our area, it's the same as other areas of the country. no one is better than anyone else.

Another suggestion, does anyone actually know the circumstances of why the boys were acquitted?

"That's whats wrong with reporting today, the public is too focused on sound bites and not interested in investigative journalism."

[-from schuylkill county]

first of i would like to say not all people in this area are prejudiced and alot of it goes the other way, i was in line at a restaraunt and three mexican's were there and they said very loudly there are to many damn white people in here. Now let a white person say that hmmmm. anyway i dont believe these boys should do life they should get manslaughter. None of us where there and dont know the reasoning behind the fight, and i will say this alot of kids fight and i dont doubt the guy that was killed was making reverse racial slurs to them. I agree that the police though there did not handle the situation the right way and they are by the way being investigated. anyone making any kind of statements without facts on this discussion should really . what really bothers me though is the protesting around this i live close to this area and the protesters came and were told they could not protest within a mile of the courthouse , you know where they wanted to protest right in front of a day care center. this is sickening to me. let this happen the other way around in a bigger city and see what would happen if white protesters came they would be shot or beaten up. i dont believe the boys were right but i dont think they intentionally killed them. they need to be punished yes but not for life. before you judge look in your own backyard.

[Get real]

It's not like those racist hispanics hate groups and their supporters wouldn't be cheering, hooping and hollering if they got to send up some white boys for nothing more than being white.

The hispanic hate groups and their supporters are just p*ssed off that their presence didn't intimidate the jury. The hispanic hate groups and their supporters are mad as h*ll that the jury didn't ignore evidence and sacrifice those boys on the altar of political correctness.

So now, they run to DOJ and whine and cry hoping the DOJ will overturn a jury verdict just to make the hateful racists happy. I hope they tell you all to get out and don't let the door hit you on the a** and also inform you racists that any riots will be met with the National Guard and serious prison time.

[Outraged]

The last to comments are what's wrong with this nation. Always trying to put the blame and attention on others to take away the focus on the real problem.

[GeorgiaGuy]

oregn wrote:

An 18 year old is an adult last time I checked.

And the last time I checked, a guy 10 years older getting a 12 or 13 year old pregnant was a child rapist...

[Schuylkill County Proud]

Please don't talk about the case if you do not know anything about it. I have followed the case from the beginning and I agree with what the jurors have come up with. Some of you people who are commenting about this have no clue what really went on. It was a street fight gone bad. Yes a man died, it's not like it happened before. Go to New York, and you're telling me people only get away with murder in Schuylkill County. I think that this was blown out of porportion way too much. Leave these boys alone and keep the rude comments to yourself.

[josh]

There just lucky there not L.A, I can wait for the Department of Justice to take action and re open this case in a different location with a jury not being all white...Ignorant Teens & families celebrating after they left 2 kids fatherless I truly hope they do time and have to share a cell with a Mexican...dont drop the soap boys...I wish I was there...Instead of Victor...

[kadijah]

it is unbelievable they got away so easy, but those red necks don't have anything better to do than drink Budweiser and smoke meth i am surprise they still have teeth left. that what they do in those villages bunch of ignorants hillbillies

[kadijah]

it is unbelievable they got away so easy, but those red necks don't have anything better to do than drink Budweiser and smoke meth i am surprise they still have teeth left. that's what they do in those villages bunch of ignorant hillbillies

[the devil666]

you rock kadijah!!!!!!!!!