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Another Hispanic on Long Island is the victim of a violent crime,
who is certain is was motivated by racial hatred.
Liz Gonzalez spoke with the victim and is in our newsroom with the latest details.
Good afternoon, liz.
Good afternoon, Jorge
The victim, a Peruvian immigrant,
alleges he was attacked by 4 African-Americans when he was walking in Long Beach.
At the moment 3 people have been arrested.
Hispanic leaders asked for an extensive investigation
of the circumstances of the attack.
In what could be another racial hate attack on Long Island,
26-year-old Fernando Ugaz Moreno was brutally beaten by 4 young African-Americans
in Long Beach on October 14th.
According to the victim,
I didn't see them. I just felt their presence
when the first guy punched me in the face making the first cut,
the biggest cut.
And when I reacted I had the other 3 guys on top of me.
Then the 4 guys started to hit me hard in the face, on my body.
The attack happened near the intersection of West Market and Magnolia streets,
Ugaz Moreno yelled "help" and tried to take the blows until he managed to escape from the assailants.
While I was bleeding they kept beating me and insulting me,
saying stuff about my race.
When he got home, the Peruvian immigrant called the police.
The authorities captured 3 suspects at a bus stop
that night and Ugaz Moreno positively identified them.
The victim is convinced this was a hate crime,
not just because of the racial slurs.
He claims he was carrying cash and his cellphone and they didn't try to rob him.
For 30 years Gil Bernadino has worked with immigrants in Long Beach.
On the day following the attack he wrote this letter to the district attorney
asking for an immediate investigation of the attack as a possible hate crime
I hope the D.A.s office conducts the best investigation possible
so the causes and motivation come to light.
His organization is helping Ugaz Moreno solicit aid from the government
as the victim of a crime to pay more the 2 thousand dollars in medical expenses.
And according to the victim his assailants were teenagers and one of them is still free.
The prosecutor hasn't decided yet if the young men will be accused of a hate crime, Jorge.
Thank you very much Liz.