The Murder of Luis Ramirez
For this case I watched an episode of Murder Under the Friday Night Lights. It’s season 1 episode 4, titled ‘Game of Privileges.’
A young father is beaten, kicked, and left for dead.
Background
Luis Ramirez had immigrated from Mexico to the small town of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, for a better life. He met a woman named Crystal Dillman, who had a young 2 month old daughter, who Luis helped raise. They eventually had two young kids of their own, and had been engaged at the time of his death.
Luis
Crystal Dillman and Luis Ramirez
The 911 Calls
On July 12, 2008, the first of several 911 calls, came in around 11:40pm. The caller said an ambulance was needed on Vine Street, and that someone was being beaten up.
A nearby neighbor named Eileen Burke had heard screaming, and saw a group of people. She also saw Luis getting beaten up. She heard the group run away, and went to kneel down beside Luis. He had been kicked in the head, and appeared to be unconscious.
Several other 911 calls came in that night. One man named Eddie Nye had called to say that he and several others were following the group of attackers, and that they had gone to a laundromat by the baseball fields.
When the police finally arrived, Luis was unconscious, and was transferred to the hospital. He had to have a portion of his skull removed to ease the swelling of his brain. He was eventually taken off life support, and passed away at age 25.
Luis after the attack
A Community Divided
Two days after the fight, several witnesses identified the people involved. They were all teenagers who played football at Shenandoah High School. They were identified as Brandon Piekarsky, Derrick Donchak, and Colin Walsh.
The community immediately defended the boys, and called them local heroes. One of the responding officers had made a comment like “well there goes the football season.”
The police didn’t seem to have a lot of concern for Luis’ state. There was tension because the Shenandoah community didn’t like change, and didn't like that the Hispanic community was “taking over.”
The police didn’t interview the football players right away, in fact, a friend of the boys named Brian Scully, was interviewed several days later.
Victim Blaming
Brian said that they had seen Luis at the park that night. Luis had been with Crystal’s sister, who he was friends with. Apparently, the groups had verbal exchanges. Luis had been the out of control one, and had attacked them first.
Brian had left out that the teens had been drinking that evening, and that they had been calling out racial slurs to Luis. He also said that they had never kicked Luis.
The account of the Brian’s statements didn’t match up to the eyewitness statements. The witnesses all said that Luis had been kicked by several people. They identified Colin Walsh as the one that had thrown a punch, knocking Luis down to the ground.
As the group was getting ready to leave, one of the boys did a “soccer like” kick to Luis head. The final kick was determined to be what killed him. The boys then ran off towards the baseball fields.
The case had its faults, and the police were not taking it seriously. Officer Hayes, one of the responding officers, had actually been dating the mother of Brandon Piekarsky at the time. The police also had two meetings with the group of football players on the night of the incident, and the day after. They had talked about what they were going to say, and what they were going to leave out, including the drinking and racial slurs.
The Confession
The DA had to write letters to the police chief for the written reports of the responding officers. It took them 3 weeks to get it. In one of the reports, an eyewitness had identified Brandon as the person who had delivered the final kick to Luis’ head.
Brian was asked to come into the police station. He was confronted because by that point, the DA’s office knew exactly what had happened. He stormed out of the interview, but came back the next day.
He opened up, and said that the group had shouted at Luis that night, and told him to go back to Mexico. He also admitted that they had kicked Luis while he was on the ground.
The other boys didn’t want to talk, but Colin Walsh eventually admitted to everything. Colin had punched Luis, and knocked him down. Brandon was in fact the one who delivered the soccer kick to Luis’ head.
On July 25, 2008, charges were filed against all three boys. Most of the community supported the boys, and many called the friend that confessed, a rat for telling on his friends.
No Justice
The trial began on April 27, 2009.
The 911 calls were played at the trial, and the extent of Luis’ injuries came to light. The boys didn't give too shits, and were actually seen giggling and joking around.
Colin Walsh, and the other friend, both testified for the prosecution. They admitted to being the instigators. They also said Brian had delivered the final kick.
On May 2, 2009, the jury found the defendants not guilty of all the serious charges. They were only found guilty of assault.
As soon as they were found not guilty, the FBI became involved. The FBI had conducted a parallel investigation that had turned into a police corruption matter.
The two responding officers had claimed that they didn’t know where the boys had gone that night. However, on the 911 call from Eddie Nye, he can be heard talking to them. The dispatcher also asked him who he was speaking to, and he said the police had finally arrived. He also told them that the boys took off running, and were at the baseball fields.
The Convictions
On October 4, 2010, the federal trial began.
The teens were now charged with a hate crime, but weren’t being retried for murder or assault.
Brandon Piekarsky and Derrick Donchak were sentenced to 9 years in prison for violating Luis’ civil rights.
Colin Walsh received 55 months in prison.
Piekarsky, Donchak and Walsh
Brian Scully pled guilty in juvenile court to aggravated assault and other charges.
Three months later, Lieutenant Bill Moyer was convicted in federal court of lying to the FBI. He was sentenced to 3 months in prison.
Officer Jason Hayes was acquitted.
Police chief Jason Nestor, and Deputy Jamie Gennarini, were also charged in a separate case. They were charged with allowing illegal gambling operations. They had set up operations in town, and extorted it for money.
Nestor, Hayes and Moyer
FINAL THOUGHTS
This case made me sick. My heart truly breaks for Luis, Luis’ family, Crystal, and their children. He deserved justice, and in my eyes, he didn't receive it. It’s disgusting that the community supported these awful people, instead of Luis, just because he wasn't white. I understand there is still racism in this world, but there shouldn't be. I hope all the defendants have miserable lives now. It seems harsh, but they took someones life, and didn’t have to pay for it.
Sources
https://www.colorlines.com/articles/luis-ramirezs-attackers-get-nine-years-prison-deadly-beating
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/dec/16/mexican-immigrant-murder
