Hate Crime Indictment in Shenandoah, PA

January 2010 National Scene Magazine National Article

What Was Motivation of Hate Crime in Small PA Town?

Teens, Police Officers From Shenandoah Indicted After Attack, Death of Luis Ramirez


Written by: Karen Benardello



Two teenagers and four police officers from the small town of Shenandoah, Penn. were indicted by a federal judge on December 15, as a result of a hate crimes investigation that was launched following the attack of Luis Ramirez in July 2008.

According to the Associated Press, Derrick Donchak and Brandon Piekarsky were charged with a hate crime shouting racial slurs and fatally beating their Hispanic victim. The indictments seem to be related to Hispanic advocates insisting that the killing is part of the rising number of hate crimes against Latinos in America.

If the teens are indeed responsible for Ramirez’ death, they do need to be punished, as Piekarsky was acquitted of third-degree murder and ethnic intimidation, and Donchak was acquitted of aggravated assault and ethnic intimidation. So far, they have only been convicted of simple assault.

Matthew Nestor, the Shenandoah police chief, and three of his officers were also indicted, on such charges as witness tampering and lying to the FBI. In addition, the police chief, Lt. William Moyer and Officer Jason Hayes were all also charged with conspiring to obstruct justice.

Ramirez was attacked when half-a-dozen high school football players were going home after a block party when they passed him in a park. After an argument broke out, ethnic slurs were passed on both sides, and the teens’ defense attorneys claim Ramirez was the aggressive one. When Ramirez and Piekarsky began throwing punches, Donchak’s lawyers claim he jumped in to stop the fight.

Ultimately, prosecutors believe Ramirez died when Piekarsky kicked him in the head, but his defense lawyers claim one of the other teens delivered the fatal blow. Hopefully, the teens will confess to what they really did do, to bring justice to Ramirez nearly a year-and-a-half after his death.