Who's to Blame for Marcello's Murder?

'Blood in His Hands'

Levy has been accused with anti-immigration sentiment in the past. Since he took office in 2004, the county has put forth laws on issues that some say pertain to the Hispanic community, both illegal and legal, including restrictions on non-related people living in the same residence and anti-loitering proposals that sought to cut down on day laborers who wait by the roadside looking for work.

He's also signed legislation to bar undocumented workers from being hired by county contractors and those with county licenses.

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When asked to comment on his relations with the Hispanic community and his comments regarding the Lucero murder, Levy's spokesman said that the county executive "has consistently denounced this heinous act."

"This is not a time for politics, finger-pointing or a debate on the issue of illegal immigration," the spokesman said.

But Ramirez said the fact that Levy uttered those words at all "shows you an insight into his thinking ... how he views this community."

And there's no question in the pastor's mind that Levy and his policies bear at least some of the responsibility for what happened to Lucero.

"He, along with those seven young men, has blood in his hands," Ramirez said.

The seven teens have been charged and arraigned. The alleged ringleader, Jeffrey Conroy, 17, of Medford, N.Y., was charged with first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime and first-degree gang assault. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail at the Suffolk County jail.

The remaining suspects, all charged with first-degree gang assault, pleaded not guilty and were assigned bond options. They are: Jordan Dasch, 17, Anthony Hartford, 17, Nicholas Hausch, 17, and Kevin Shea, 17, all of Medford, N.Y., as well as Christopher Overton, 16, and Jose Pacheco, 17, both of East Patchogue, N.Y.

Conroy's family could not be reached and his lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. Lawyers for Shea, Hartford, Kirby, Overton and Hausch told Newsday that their clients were not involved in the stabbing, while Conroy's lawyer told the newspaper that the high school athlete was not a racist.