The third of six defendants has been sentenced to more than 200 years for the gruesome 2007 execution-style slayings of three Newark college friends—including one who he hacked with a machete before shooting. A fourth victim survived. At least two of the college students were gay.
In April, a jury convicted Alexander Alfaro on 16 of 17 counts related to the attack. On Thursday, Alfaro was sentenced to 212 years in prison, reports the Star-Ledger. Alfaro received 60 years each on two of the murders and 75 years on the third. The terms are consecutive. Alfaro was also sentenced to a 17-year consecutive term for armed robbery.
Terrance Aeriel, Iofemi Hightower and Dashon Harvey were killed August 4, 2007 when they were shot execution style in a schoolyard. Aeriel's sister was shot and sexually assaulted but survived. Harvey and Hightower were openly gay. The friends "planned to drive together" to New York City the next morning to attend a Black Gay Pride event. Hightower, a lesbian, was also sexually assaulted. All four victims were enrolled or about to be enrolled at Delaware State University.
Alfaro is the second of three adults and three teens to be tried for the violent gang initiation. His half-brother, Rodolfo Godinez, was convicted last year and a third man, Melvin Jovel, pleaded guilty. They are serving life terms. Three others await trial.
In 2007, Rod 2.0 reported one of the teen suspects attended high school with one of the gay victims—and this may have been among the reasons the victims were targeted. Prosecutors declined to file hate crime charges because the victims' families "did not want" the deceased identified as gay.
R20's complete coverage HERE.
"Prosecutors declined to file hate crime charges because the victims' families "did not want" the deceased identified as gay."
Sometimes the law and the media ought to take matters into their own hands if the "families" allow their own stupidity and bigotry to stand in the way of justice. Do you actually need the family's consent to bring hate crime charges against sadistic murderers motivated by a hatred for Gay people?
This is one of the worst case of anti-Gay violence that I've ever heard of. It is just as awful as the torture-murders of Matthew Shepard and Brandon Teena. Yet, this blog (Rod McCulom's Blog)is the only blog I know of that has paid much attention to this atrocity in Newark.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 20 May 2011 at 11:32
"this blog (Rod McCulom's Blog)is the only blog I know of that has paid much attention to this atrocity in Newark."
Derrick, I was thinking the same thing. Rod, thank you for keeping us updated with this story. May the rest these monsters' lives in jail be a living hell.
Posted by: soulbrotha | 20 May 2011 at 12:34
These folks are more concerned about the victims being identified as gay? My God, what is up with folks these days?
Posted by: Account Deleted | 20 May 2011 at 15:33
These babies would have been graduating from college this year. I'm sitting here in tears. This situation is so heartbreaking. I thank you Rod for keeping this story and the memory of these beautiful young people alive. Thank you...
Posted by: FREELEO | 20 May 2011 at 18:01
That sick piece of sh** deserves EVERY SINGLE YEAR of that sentence. Bravo jury! Thanks for keeping us updated Rod.
Posted by: MW09 | 20 May 2011 at 19:42
Derrick, Soulbrotha, and Kevin, I was just planning to touch on the issues that you all brought up. I am glad that you beat me to it, because it means that I am not alone in my concerns.
Ugh, just because the family is in denial (or simply ashamed) doesn't mean that the gay issues go away. If nothing else, the parents should have felt compelled to speak out against homophobia based on the murders of their children. Hatred took the lives of their babies. Yet, they are embarrassed? WTF.
Man, I am fuming right now. Nonetheless, I am glad that the law was in the corner of these victims. May those scumbags rot in jail. When I think about the homophobic jerks I dealt with in high school and college. While I am thankful that it never got violent, the point is that IT COULD HAVE. What happened to those victims could have happened to anyone of us. I am hurting right now, and pissed at the same time.
Posted by: Bubbalicious | 21 May 2011 at 05:45
"Prosecutors declined to file hate crime charges because the victims' families "did not want" the deceased identified as gay." WTF? THis was not a civil case, the decision wasn't up to the family. This was "the state" vs. the suspects and if there was evidence to support INTENT on the part of the suspects, then it is irrevelant whether or not the victims identified as gay. Something wrong with that picture.
Posted by: MBillow@gmail.com | 21 May 2011 at 16:51