A Long Island teenager accused of participating in an attack that left an Ecuadorean immigrant dead is denying charges that he also assaulted other Hispanics.
Kevin Shea pleaded not guilty yesterday to a new indictment. He and six fellow high-school students are accused of a series of attacks on Hispanics in the Patchogue-Medford area of eastern Long Island. The others previously pleaded not guilty.
Shea’s attorney did not immediately return a call for comment.
The teens reportedly told authorities that targeting Hispanics for abuse was a regular activity.
All seven previously pleaded not guilty to hate-crime and other charges in the November killing of Marcelo Lucero. His stabbing death has attracted international attention and prompted a US Justice Department investigation of area hate crimes.