PA-Police: Man gave alcohol to teen charged in fatal beating

Police: Man gave alcohol to teen charged in fatal beating
2:53 PM EDT, July 31, 2008
A 23-year-old man who police say gave alcohol to a teen on the night he and two others allegedly beat to death an illegal immigrant in Schuylkill County was charged today with furnishing liquor to minors.

Joseph P. McTiernan, 23, of 511 Pine St., Mahanoy City, gave alcohol to Derrick M. Donchak, 18, of Shenandoah -- one of the teens charged in the July 12 racially charged beating death of Luis Ramirez, 25, on a Shenandoah street, according to a citation filed at the office of District Judge Anthony Kilker of Shenandoah.

Donchak then gave the alcohol to the other minors charged with being involved in Ramirez's death: Colin J. Walsh, 17; Brandon J. Piekarsky, 16, and a 17-year-old boy who authorities said will be charged as a juvenile.

Two other teens also were involved in the underage drinking, but not in Ramirez's beating, police said.



Court records say the six teens happened upon Ramirez after spending the night drinking in the woods and going to a block party. About 11:15 p.m., as they walked past Ramirez and a teenage girl near Vine Street Park in Shenandoah, they taunted her: "Get your Mexican boyfriend out of here." According to court records, one called Ramirez a racial slur. He responded, "What's your problem?"

Some of the teens went after him. A fight broke out. Ramirez fell. They punched and kicked him repeatedly, the court records say. Walsh delivered a closed-fist punch to the face that caused Ramirez to fall and hit his head on macadam, the records say.

As Ramirez lay unconscious, the affidavit says, Piekarsky kicked him in the head. All six teens then fled.

Ramirez, a father of two who came to the United States from Mexico illegally six years ago, died of his injuries two days later in Geisinger Medical center in Danville, Montour County.

Walsh and Piekarsky were charged as adults with homicide, ethnic intimidation and related offenses. Donchak was charged with aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation and related crimes.

Court records said he ran toward Ramirez after the fight broke out and tangled with him.

McTiernan will be mailed a summons, the district attorney's office said.

-- Reporting by John J. Moser, The Morning Call


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