Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 14, 2006 11:57:48 GMT -5
Ethnicity a factor in murder?
The slaying of a Hispanic Woodbridge resident may have been ethnically
motivated, county police announced Wednesday, following the arrest of 2
suspects in the ongoing investigation.
Georgino Napier, 18, and Carlito R. McToy, 17, have been charged with the
murder of Serafin Alvarez Negrete, a native of Mexico. The pair, who
police described as African-Americans, face additional charges of robbery
and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. Both are being held
without bond in the county jail.
"There is some indication that part of the motive had to do with the
ethnicity of the victim," said Prince William Police Chief Charlie Deane
at a media briefing, adding he anticipated more charges for the suspects.
Alvarez was shot to death Sunday night outside the Marumsco Mobile Home
Park, as he returned from doing laundry across U.S. 1. Police confirmed
Wednesday that Alvarez had also been robbed.
Murder in the commission of a robbery is a capital offense, punishable by
death in Virginia. A hate crime charge may also be brought against the
pair, adding to the severity of the penalty, said Prince William
Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert. He called such crimes "relatively
uncommon" in the county.
Ebert said he would not immediately bring a hate crime charge against the
suspects, but left open the possibility. He will push for McToy, a minor,
to be tried as an adult.
"We're going to punish people and punish them severely," Ebert said. "We
will send the message to the community that this will not be tolerated."
McToy and Napier confessed to the homicide on Tuesday, according to a
search warrant filed on the same day. Police found the victim's cell phone
and a money transfer in his name in the suspects' apartment at 1451 Ranger
Loop, Woodbridge.
Deane was vague on what led police to McToy and Napier, saying only that
an "alert officer overheard a conversation [Sunday night] that made him
suspicious of the suspects' whereabouts."
In the course of the murder investigation, police have implicated Napier
and McToy in three burglaries since June, of computer equipment, jewelry
and cash. 2 of the thefts - all in Woodbridge - took place last week.
So far this year, 231 robberies have been committed, compared with a total
of 250 in 2005.
County law enforcement officials said they are alarmed by the spike in
robberies, notably perpetrated against Hispanic immigrants who are known
to carry cash.
In many cases, the aggressors were young, black men, according to a police
report in February that analyzed the rash of street robberies. The motives
for those crimes was considered based on opportunity, rather than on race.
The Marumsco area of Woodbridge, where many Hispanic residents are illegal
immigrants, is a hot spot for robberies, according to police.
Thirteen robberies have been committed in the vicinity since March, and
that number may be low.
Such crimes may be underreported, noted Sgt. Charles Hoffman, head of the
violent crimes unit, citing the fear of illegal immigrants to approach
authorities.
McToy and Napier lived near the mobile home park where Alvarez was killed,
in the military housing community of Woodbridge Run. No one answered the
door Wednesday of the apartment they shared.
The military town houses and the mobile home park are separated by a thin
but densely wooded area, encircled by an 8-foot tall chain link fence.
Residents of the park claimed they had seen robbers climb over the fence
and hide in the woods.
Reggie Willis, the security supervisor for Woodbridge Run, said he had
seen youths scale the fence.
"I followed some kids once and saw them put shirts over the top of the
fence and get over that way," he said.
The homicide has shaken Hispanic residents of the park, neighbors and
relatives of the deceased Alvarez. Fearing attackers lurking in the woods,
some want the area to be razed.
"It needs to be cleared out," said Crisoforo Cruz, a Mexican native who
lives in the park. "You never know if someone is hiding back there."
(source: Potomac News)
The slaying of a Hispanic Woodbridge resident may have been ethnically
motivated, county police announced Wednesday, following the arrest of 2
suspects in the ongoing investigation.
Georgino Napier, 18, and Carlito R. McToy, 17, have been charged with the
murder of Serafin Alvarez Negrete, a native of Mexico. The pair, who
police described as African-Americans, face additional charges of robbery
and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. Both are being held
without bond in the county jail.
"There is some indication that part of the motive had to do with the
ethnicity of the victim," said Prince William Police Chief Charlie Deane
at a media briefing, adding he anticipated more charges for the suspects.
Alvarez was shot to death Sunday night outside the Marumsco Mobile Home
Park, as he returned from doing laundry across U.S. 1. Police confirmed
Wednesday that Alvarez had also been robbed.
Murder in the commission of a robbery is a capital offense, punishable by
death in Virginia. A hate crime charge may also be brought against the
pair, adding to the severity of the penalty, said Prince William
Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert. He called such crimes "relatively
uncommon" in the county.
Ebert said he would not immediately bring a hate crime charge against the
suspects, but left open the possibility. He will push for McToy, a minor,
to be tried as an adult.
"We're going to punish people and punish them severely," Ebert said. "We
will send the message to the community that this will not be tolerated."
McToy and Napier confessed to the homicide on Tuesday, according to a
search warrant filed on the same day. Police found the victim's cell phone
and a money transfer in his name in the suspects' apartment at 1451 Ranger
Loop, Woodbridge.
Deane was vague on what led police to McToy and Napier, saying only that
an "alert officer overheard a conversation [Sunday night] that made him
suspicious of the suspects' whereabouts."
In the course of the murder investigation, police have implicated Napier
and McToy in three burglaries since June, of computer equipment, jewelry
and cash. 2 of the thefts - all in Woodbridge - took place last week.
So far this year, 231 robberies have been committed, compared with a total
of 250 in 2005.
County law enforcement officials said they are alarmed by the spike in
robberies, notably perpetrated against Hispanic immigrants who are known
to carry cash.
In many cases, the aggressors were young, black men, according to a police
report in February that analyzed the rash of street robberies. The motives
for those crimes was considered based on opportunity, rather than on race.
The Marumsco area of Woodbridge, where many Hispanic residents are illegal
immigrants, is a hot spot for robberies, according to police.
Thirteen robberies have been committed in the vicinity since March, and
that number may be low.
Such crimes may be underreported, noted Sgt. Charles Hoffman, head of the
violent crimes unit, citing the fear of illegal immigrants to approach
authorities.
McToy and Napier lived near the mobile home park where Alvarez was killed,
in the military housing community of Woodbridge Run. No one answered the
door Wednesday of the apartment they shared.
The military town houses and the mobile home park are separated by a thin
but densely wooded area, encircled by an 8-foot tall chain link fence.
Residents of the park claimed they had seen robbers climb over the fence
and hide in the woods.
Reggie Willis, the security supervisor for Woodbridge Run, said he had
seen youths scale the fence.
"I followed some kids once and saw them put shirts over the top of the
fence and get over that way," he said.
The homicide has shaken Hispanic residents of the park, neighbors and
relatives of the deceased Alvarez. Fearing attackers lurking in the woods,
some want the area to be razed.
"It needs to be cleared out," said Crisoforo Cruz, a Mexican native who
lives in the park. "You never know if someone is hiding back there."
(source: Potomac News)