Rest in Peace J.B. Hehman (TLOZ Link5)

[Schadenfrau]

I absolutely agree, Stern.

I'm also glad that Al Sharpton spoke out against this, if only to put an end to the general sniping that black leaders surely wouldn't take an interest in a case like this.

[kliq6]

this is just a horrible event and like others i always enjoyed the posts he made and private discussions i had with him.

to ask why they did what they did is pointless, they are miserable excuses for human beings

[krulltime]

WHAT!!!

One of our best and cool member was the one chased by those bastards and then killed!!! I had no idea! I am really sad and I feel like crying right now.

Rest in peace TLOZ (Broderick John Hehman)!

[Citytect]

Oh my god. How did I miss this story? I just read every post in this thread, and I'm stunned. I really don't know what to say right now. This is just horrible. He was a great guy.

[infoshare]

Oh my god. How did I miss this story? I just read every post in this thread, and I'm stunned.

Here is a recent article....there is another in the daily news...I will link that also if it is available.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARLEM THUGS YUPPIE HUNTING

By LAURA ITALIANO
Broderick John Hehman was chased into traffic on 125th Street, where he was fatally struck by a car.

April 11, 2006 -- It's yuppie-hunting season on 125th Street in Harlem.
Teen wolf packs have been systematically preying on people in the gentrifying neighborhood, police sources said yesterday, as four young punks were charged with murder for a mugging gone awry.

The teens, charged as adults, face up to nine years to life behind bars for allegedly acting with depraved indifference in causing the death of New York University student Broderick John Hehman, 20.

Theirs are the first high-profile arrests in a new crime pattern that's shaken the on-the-rise neighborhood.

Sources said local teens, typically ages 13 to 15, linger along 125th Street, scoping out potential mugging victims, then moving in to surround and attack.

The kids target well-dressed students, tourists or commuters, preferring those who are alone and talking on cellphones as they climb out of the Metro-North and subway stations at Lexington Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard, sources said.

They're after cellphones, small electronics and wallets.



The sources said cops arrest groups of kids for these coordinated sidewalk muggings a couple times a month.

"The larger kids will grab or punch you, maybe throw you to the ground," said one cop from the area. "Then the little ones go through your pockets."

Until now, these attacks caused only scratches and bruises. But that changed April 1, when just this kind of pack allegedly pounced on Hehman, 20, who was visiting a friend in the neighborhood.

Hehman, the son of a Manhattan investment banker, ran into traffic to flee his pursuers. Struck by a Mercedes, he died six days later of head injuries .

"These kids are just like what we're always getting out there," said a cop who patrols the historic street.

Added the cop, "We keep telling people, when you walk out of the station, stay off the cellphone. Be alert. Don't act like you're in Midtown. 'Cause you're not in Midtown. You're in Harlem."

Robberies in the 25th Precinct, which includes 125th Street in East Harlem, are up 3.3 percent so far this year, according to NYPD crime statistics through April 2. There were 61 robberies in the precinct for the first three months of the year, compared to 59 for the same period in 2005.

All four teens charged in Hehman's murder have confessed to acting together to mug the popular student, according to criminal complaints released yesterday.

Accused ringleader Andre "Chris" Johnson, 15, spotted Hehman walking alone and talking on his cell as he left the Metro-North station, and pointed him out to the others, the complaints allege.

Johnson admitted punching the student in the side of his head, and Hassan Mayfield, 15, admitted "trying" to grab him, prosecutors said.

Denzell Fell and Humberto Guzman, both 13, insisted they played minor roles, saying, "Chris and Hassan never give us any of the stuff they take," according to Assistant District Attorney Joel Seideman.

None of the teens admitted chasing Hehman into traffic. All denied wanting to seriously injure him. They're being held without bail, and a fifth teen is still being sought.

Additional reporting by Perry Chiaramonte

laura.italiano@nypost.com

[Jake]

requiescat in pace - may he/she rest in peace


Extremely sad to see him die this way. What words can comment on something like this?

[lofter1]

Here is a recent article....

HARLEM THUGS YUPPIE HUNTING

Teen wolf packs have been systematically preying on people in the gentrifying neighborhood, police sources said yesterday, as four young punks were charged with murder for a mugging gone awry.

Theirs are the first high-profile arrests in a new crime pattern that's shaken the on-the-rise neighborhood.

Sources said local teens, typically ages 13 to 15, linger along 125th Street, scoping out potential mugging victims, then moving in to surround and attack.

The kids target well-dressed students, tourists or commuters, preferring those who are alone and talking on cellphones as they climb out of the Metro-North and subway stations at Lexington Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard, sources said.

... The sources said cops arrest groups of kids for these coordinated sidewalk muggings a couple times a month.

This has been going on for months but somehow it hasn't made it into the press -- so who dropped the ball? The City? Or the reporters?

It seems there could be more to this than is being told.

[infoshare]

It seems there could be more to this than is being told.

Your right about that! In the last year I have been (jumped) twice, onec on 125th street the other on 133rd. On one occasion the term "Pilgrim Mtherfuker" was used.....the implication being (I assume) that I am a whitey AND an intruder in an area I do not "belong" in....I dont know.....what else can that mean. I am not the least bit racist....I just want to be able to walk home from the subway/market without risking my life in the process.

Something has gone terribly awry when in NYC a person can not walk the streets unmolested.....this is not a "civil society" and its time for some - as I read in the Daily News "old school outrage".

[antinimby]

Infoshare, what you just described is serious. Did you reported the incidence(s) to the police? IMO, that is clearly a hate crime.

If the police in that precinct know about this insidious trend of racial harrassment by these thugs and did not do anything about it, then someone in a higher position in the police dept. need to be questioned.

Because if the police did do something to curb this type of activity such as an increased police presence on the streets, who knows, maybe TLOZ's fate would have turned out differently.

And you are right, no one should be a target for harrassment because of their race in any neighborhood anywhere.

Btw, I interpreted the "pilgrim" comment as a way of saying that they felt you and perhaps other white "settlers" are coming into the neighborhood and contributing to the gentrification of the area.

[Luca]

I have nothing more profound to say than: this sucks.

I'm just back from NYC, where everyone was extremely corteous / helpful. Only got called a "mother####r" once, by a drug peddler in Washington Square.

[infoshare]

Infoshare, what you just described is serious. Did you reported the incidence(s) to the police? IMO, that is clearly a hate crime.

No I did not report the incident. The location where the first attack occured is a desolate street/pathway that leads to the food market at about 133rd street.

On the following day, a man was shot/killed - at the same exact spot - and then I went to a police car in the nabe.....told them that I was mugged at the same location the previous day......and that I believe there may be a connection between my incident and the dead man (same local/following day) and tried to tell him more...the cop had been talking on his cell phone (probably) on on a personal call....he told the person he was talking too (hold on a minuit) .....he then glared me as to say......go away....I am on an imporant personal phone call..... so I just went about my business.

Now..this really gets me... it was determined that the man "killed Himself" (WHAT) and it was not reported as a crime.....I am not kidding.......How did the reach THAT conclusion......If someone wants to come forward and open this case I will help..... It happened about one year ago...time to stop
"turning the other cheek".

P.S. To further discuss/investigate this crime.....please PM me.....I do not want to take the focus off of the important issue here TLOZ....it all about HIM.

[BrooklynRider]

Infoshare-

Certainly, sharing your experience puts your commentary into a much different context. I can understand your reaction better now.

[krulltime]

I can't still believe this happen to our TLOZ Link5. Last night when I was in bed I just told myself that this was just a nightmare and that soon I will wake up. But I woke up this morning and it was not a bad dream.

I am still very upset about this story. I will like to go to that trial and just hear that these punks will get the ultimate sentence. But I know they are VERY stupid teenagers and I just hope that they and their other punk ass friends who are still out there learn something from this tragedy.

[infoshare]

Infoshare-

Certainly, sharing your experience puts your commentary into a much different context. I can understand your reaction better now.

I will be leaving this thread (for now) It is all very heavy stuff.....and I am burried in paperwork that is not getting done. Take CAre BRider...Your a "solid" guy.

cheers

[lofter1]

If the police in that precinct know about this insidious trend of racial harrassment by these thugs and did not do anything about it, then someone in a higher position in the police dept. need to be questioned.

Because if the police did do something to curb this type of activity such as an increased police presence on the streets, who knows, maybe TLOZ's fate would have turned out differently.

This is my point exactly.

If there was a "trend" which had been occurring over a period of time prior to JB's death and little or nothing was done to increase the protections for that area that someone should answer to that.

Take a look around MSG, TS, SoHo -- there are clearly more cops on the beat in those areas over the past few months. Obviously decisions have been made to put boots on the street. Was there a decision made NOT to put more cops on the streets around 125 / Park despite an increase in "incidents"?

What happened to "Protect & Serve"?