Cops: Hispanic man's beating death pursued as hate crime
JUPITER, Fla. -- Hate crime charges will be pursued against three Florida teens in the beating death of an 18-year-old Hispanic man, police in Jupiter announced Monday.
The Palm Beach Post reports 19-year-old Austin Taggart, 18-year-old Jesse Harris and 19-year-old David Harris were arrested Saturday on murder charges. The three men are accused of robbing and killing 18-year-old Onesimo Marcelino Lopez-Ramos April 18 in Jupiter. Police were reportedly called on the report of a person being attacked by multiple people, and discovered Lopez-Ramos lying on the ground unconscious.
He died before he could be taken to a hospital, reports the paper.
Officials say the cause of death was blunt force trauma. A "bloody white rock" found near the scene may have been the murder weapon, reports the paper, citing a police report.
Speaking at a press conference Monday, Jupiter Police Chief Frank Kitzerow said the suspects targeted Lopez-Ramos because he was Hispanic, and described the murder as "senseless."
"The suspects in this case specifically targeted members of the Hispanic community," Kitzerow said. "They sought them out, and this young man was ultimately killed as this crime unfolded."
Jessie and David Harris are brothers, reports CBS affiliate WPEC.
It is unclear whether the men have lawyers.