An update to the investigation into the fatal shootings of three Newark college students who were killed only hours before they planned to attend a black gay pride festival. Prosecutor say a grand jury could return indictments as soon as next month.
Terrance Aeriel, Iofemi Hightower and Dashon Harvey were killed in August 4, 2007 when they were shot execution style outside a Newark elementary school. Harvey was openly gay, Hightower may have been lesbian, and, the friends "had planned to drive together to New York City the next morning to attend a black Gay Pride event at Riis Park Beach." Police also say at least one woman was sexually assaulted. Six men, ranging in age from 16 to 28, face murder, aggravated sexual assault, robbery and weapon possession charges.
Paul Loriquet, a spokesperson for the Essex County prosecutor’s office, tells the Washington Blade the grand jury is expected to finish its investigation in September or October. The grand jury will be asked to return indictments affirming charges stemming from the triple murder.
Although one of the victims was openly gay, authorities have declined to file hate crime charges in the case. Reportedly the victims' families "do not want" their deceased children identified as gay.
Indictments Expected Soon in Newark Triple Murder [WaBl]
Some Background ...
Families of Newark Triple Murder Victims Do Not Want Case Prosecuted as Hate Crime [R20]
Newark Triple Murders an Anti-Gay Hate Crime? [R20]
Triple Murders Victims Were in "the Gay Clique" [R20]
Newark Triple Murders: Sexual Assault, Gay Angle [R20]
Thanks, Rod (and to Lou Chibbaro Jr. of the Blade and to James Credle of Newark), for helping to keep this story alive.
Posted by: Jim | 07 August 2008 at 00:01
I just got finished "reading" white racists on another blog, now I've come here to use some of the same arguments about black homophobia as that white racist. Black folks are more worried about their murdered children being labeled "gay" than they are about finding the murderers and getting a heavier sentence throught the hate crimes law. As I told the white racist: when all you've got is your "manhood" to make you feel like somebody in this world, you will let misogyny dictate your feelings about gay men...the belief that they're not real men, or some (like moi) don't a flyin' f,,,, about being "a real man."
"My son wasn't no faggot!"
Then why were he and his friends going to Gay Pride in Manhattan later that morning?...if they hadn't been lynched.
Lord, help us.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 07 August 2008 at 14:06