Teen charged in recorded beating death of immigrant

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From NBC New York
By Maria Eugenia Miranda

A teenager suspected of beating an immigrant father of four while he was sitting in a park in an affluent New Jersey suburb is scheduled to make his first appearance in court Friday.

Khayri Williams-Clark, 18, faces manslaughter charges in the death of 47-year-old Abelino Mazaniego, according to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.

Mazaniego, a native of El Salvador, finished his shift as a cook’s assistant at Dabbawalla Indian restaurant in Summit, N.J., and took a seat on a bench in the Summit Promenade, prosecutors claim.

A pack of teenagers approached him, and two started to beat him, prosecutors say. One recorded the attack. The second attacker, a 17-year-old, was also arrested; the teen who got it all on tape has not been charged.

Colin Crasto, manager and chef at Dabbawalla, said the fact that the beating was taped “makes it more horrific.” Crasto added that he’s never felt unsafe in the area, and that teens hang out outside in the summer just like anywhere else.

“We are totally shocked at what happened,” said Crasto.

Police then found Mazaniego with severe head trauma and took him to Overlook Hospital in Summit. He never regained consciousness and died three days later, according to the New Jersey Local News Service.

Williams-Clark was tracked down by police Tuesday as the video had been circulating around Summit area teens. He is being held at the Union county Jail on $100,000 bond, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Mazaniego had worked at the restaurant for over three years and was very honest, hardworking and punctual. He was “quite a jolly gentleman,” said Crasto.

Crasto said the Mazaniego family is planning a funeral in Summit, but they are flying the body back to El Salvador for burial.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” said Crasto.

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