From the Daily News:The beating death of a teen at a Queens party by a pack of brutes screaming anti-gay slurs is being investigated as a hate crime, police said Tuesday.
Anthony Collao, 18, a recent high school graduate from Long Island died Monday at Jamaica Hospital after being taken off life support, cops said.
He was beaten "within an inch of his life," after being chased down Saturday night outside the Woodhaven birthday celebration by a pack of party crashers, police said.
The five suspects forced their way into the party - which was advertised on Facebook - and refused to pay a $7 cover charge.
Once inside the house - an abandoned home on 90th St. with no electricity - they began busting windows and picking fights, witnesses said.
The teens also flashed gang signs, yelled slurs and scrawled epithets in red marker on the walls, said the two party hosts.
[NYPD Commissioner Ray] Kelly said there were roughly 45 people at the party, including the five suspects.
Cops quickly caught up to four of the suspects - Alex Velez, 16, of the Bronx, and Nolis Ogando, Christopher Lozada and Luis Tabales, all 17 and from Queens - arresting them soon after the incident.
Lozada was caught wearing the victim's Atlanta Braves baseball cap, and the others were covered in blood, sources said.
And a 5th suspect was arrested after posting about the attack on Facebook.
21 comments:
A poor young man was beaten to death when a gang of thugs rampage a party. We need to investigate 'hate crimes'? We cant just call it murder and call it a day?
First and foremost, our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family and friends of Anthony Collao. We can't begin to comprehend the pain they must be feeling.
Secondly, this tragic incident illustrates the need for increased attention to the dangers that unsecured, abandoned homes present to our communities. We recently brought attention to a similar home on 80th Street in Woodhaven and we are extremely happy to report that it was sealed up and secured on Wednesday.
As for this incident, there are still some unanswered questions. Were the people who threw the party charged with anything? If not, why not?
Also, let's say that the neighbors called police before the beating, once it became apparent there was a wild party inside the abandoned home -- would the police have been able to enter the home? From what we've heard so far, the answer is no -- that they would have needed a warrant (this is what we were told in relation to the thugs hanging out in the home on 80th Street). If this is the case, the law needs to be changed.
This is bound to be a hot topic at our open Town Hall meeting this Saturday at 1 (78-15 Jamaica Avenue). If you're in the neighborhood, please stop by.
Respectfully,
Edward K. Wendell
President
Woodhaven Residents Block Association
Sad that a life was lost. I have to question the facts though. A cover charge in an abandoned home with no electricity? Did I read that right? Where were the neighbors? Why didn't they immediately call the PD when they heard or saw people going into this home or did they choose to ignore the situation hoping it would go away. Shame on them because they could have prevented the loss of life.
How do we know they didn't? These days it take hours for police to respond to non-emergency calls.
"Why didn't they immediately call the PD when they heard or saw people going into this home or did they choose to ignore the situation hoping it would go away. Shame on them because they could have prevented the loss of life."
The police department are too busy stopping and frisking youths in hopes of finding marijuana so they can arrest them and reach quota.
350$ - 700$ million is being used to deal with the low quantity marijuana arrests in New York City.
That's a reason the cops aren't up on the calls so fast.
"350$ - 700$ million is being used to deal with the low quantity marijuana arrests in New York City."
Mind sharing the source for that?
"The police department are too busy stopping and frisking youths in hopes of finding marijuana so they can arrest them and reach quota."
And writing tickets to cyclists for rolling through red lights at empty intersections. Got to have priorities.
the facts are that someone or a group of people advertised a HOUSE PARTY on social media and charged an entrance fee. they did this in an abandoned property. this is the second news story about something terrible happening in a derelict house. Isn't NYC liable for this young man's death but not sealing this house?
are the people who profited from the party going to be charged or held responsible? last time I checked you need state licenses to sell alcohol to groups of people.
why are gangs being allowed to run rampant in NYC neighborhoods? there are entire sections of NYC that are under the control of drug dealing gangs.
I am very sorry that the young man died. My condolences to his family.
these house parties are a nightmare, unchecked insanity where you can get all the drugs you want, for a price of course.
when are our politicians going to take these house parties seriously?
"And writing tickets to cyclists for rolling through red lights at empty intersections. Got to have priorities."
This would be funny if it were true, but it's not.
"Mind sharing the source for that?"
Marijuana Possession #1 Arrest in NYC, Comprise 15% of All Arrests; Majority of Those Arrested Are Black and Latino Youth
City Council Members, Community Groups Hold Press Conference at City Hall to Issue Major Report, Discuss Economic and Human Toll of Skyrocketing Arrests
NEW YORK: A new report released today (March 15, 2011) at City Hall finds that arrests for marijuana possession cost New York City taxpayers approximately $75 million each year. The report, titled "$75 Million A Year", documents the astronomical financial costs of marijuana possession arrests in New York City. Major findings from the report include:
* A single arrest for marijuana possession, including all police and court expenses, costs from $1,000 to $2,000 or more, conservatively estimated.
* In 2010, New York City spent approximately $75 million arresting and jailing people, mostly young people, simply for possessing small amounts of marijuana.
* During Bloomberg’s tenure – from 2002 through 2010 – the NYPD made nearly 350,000 arrests for marijuana possession – costing taxpayers $350 million to $700 million.
* Marijuana possession arrests also have serious human costs and consequences. They create permanent criminal records that can be easily found on the Internet by employers, landlords, schools, credit agencies, licensing boards, and banks.
Ok? Good enough for you, you fucking untrusting piece of shit.
All crime fighting costs money.
"Ok? Good enough for you, you fucking untrusting piece of shit."
That statement is totally out of line from someone who is posting anonymously on a local blog. Only a fool believes everything he reads on the internet. To expect someone to blindly trust an anonymous post is just as foolish. I am not the person who questioned your original claim, but I am glad someone questioned it, and that you provided some info. I found it very interesting.
That report was released by an organization that has an agenda of legalizing weed. I'm all for legalizing pot, and I still take those dollar figures with a grain of salt. Just because they publish something doesn't mean it's 100% accurate or factual.
"Ok? Good enough for you, you fucking untrusting piece of shit."
I'm the one who asked this. I'm a reporter. Be glad I am skeptical because there are a good amount of journalists who will take every press release and factoid as the truth. Thanks for the source.
Third, do you realy want the police to break & enter private property ?
Under what circumsatnces ?
Because YOU say so ?
Second, if you are so concerned why don't you invest a couple of $'s on plywood & secure it yourself ?
First, charged for what ?
Misdemeanor trespassing ?
Obviuosly they are kids from YOUR neighborhood.
Good parenting starts at home, the government can't do everything for you.
It would be helpful to know exactly what anyone can do without permission of the property owner or the city to secure abandoned property.
If property around me became abandoned and people were entering it through an open/broken door/window I would plywood it up without permission, but that's just me.
WOW. This post really lost it's way.... No need to call people names unless they're deserving of it of course. No really... the important thing here is that someone lost their life over nothing! Nothing at all!
Some kids are'nt taught what a life is these day. ESPECIALLY when their 2 parents; if they're lucky enough to have 2, are both working. Mostly because this city is squeezing the shit out of the middle class.
Time to get tough. Hang the kids that did this by the balls then send them to the gas chamber.
Another black mark on Queens. I have always been ashamed of living there, this only adds to it. What is wrong with people. This poor young man was attacked, killed, and it does not matter whether he is gay or not!!!!! So many articles qualfy the fact that "he was not gay." Would his being such justify it? That is what it sounds like is being implied.
What is wrong with people? We are shortly coming up on the sixth month anniversary of Tyler Clemeti, and now THIS!!!!!!!!!!!
There is more to the story about the arrests for small amounts of marijuana. It was reported in the New York Times last month that the state legislature de-criminalized posession of small amounts, as long as they are not displayed openly the person is not supposed to be arrested, just given a summons. The NYPD found a trick to get around the intent of the new law by demanding the person empty their pockets, once the pot in their pocket is out in the open they arrest them since it is now displayed openly. If that tactic is not worthy of a police state, what on earth is?
The police aren't able to enter an abandoned house where illegal activity is occurring without a permit???
How absurd! Once again, the rights of the criminal exceed that of the average citizen.
"The NYPD found a trick to get around the intent of the new law by demanding the person empty their pockets, once the pot in their pocket is out in the open they arrest them since it is now displayed openly."
That's fucked up but not surprising. It sounds like entrapment.
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