Suspected Killer Of USC Student Has Been In U.S. Illegally For Seven Years

[rangerrebew]

- The Daily Caller - http://dailycaller.com -



Suspected Killer Of USC Student Has Been In U.S. Illegally For Seven Years

Posted By Chuck Ross On 10:06 PM 07/31/2014 In | No Comments




A 19-year-old who was part of a group suspected of fatally beating a USC graduate student with a baseball bat told authorities that he has been in the U.S. illegally for seven years.

The suspect, Jonathan Del Carmen, told authorities of his illegal status in an interview at the Los Angeles County jail, according to a federal source reached by The Daily Caller with knowledge of the interview who was not authorized to speak to the press about the investigation.

The Los Angeles Times issued a similar report confirming Del Carmen’s immigration status.

Police believe that Del Carmen, and three other suspects between 16- and 18-years-old, attacked 24-year-old Xinran Ji with a baseball bat and a wrench during an attempted robbery early on the morning of July 24 as the engineering student was walking home from a study group.

Del Carmen and the 18-year-old accomplice face capital murder charges. The two younger suspects face life in prison if convicted.

A spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that the agency has issued an immigration detainer against Del Carmen.

“Officers assigned to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Criminal Alien Program encountered Mr. Del Carmen at the Los Angeles County Jail July 30 following his incarceration on murder and robbery charges,” ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice said in a statement released to TheDC.

“ICE has lodged an immigration detainer against Mr. Del Carmen, requesting that the Sheriff’s Department turn him over to ICE for possible follow-up immigration enforcement action if and when he is released from local custody.”

“Database checks indicate Mr. Del Carmen has had no prior enforcement encounters with the Department of Homeland Security,” Kice said.

A detainer does not preempt the state of California’s case against Del Carmen. It merely notifies local law enforcement that an investigation into an individuals’ immigration status has been started.

 
According to the LA Times, authorities believe Ji attempted to get away from his attackers only to be beaten a second time. He is also believed to have made it to his home, where he later died. His body was discovered by his roommates.

Police also believe that after attacking Ji, three of the teens — not including Del Carmen — used the baseball bat to attack and rob a man and woman at Dockweiler State Beach.

They were charged with second-degree robbery, attempted second-degree robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon in that attack.

The man was able to get away from the attack and flagged down police.

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URL to article: http://dailycaller.com/2014/07/31/suspected-killer-of-usc-student-has-been-in-u-s-illegally-for-seven-years/

[truth_seeker]

Suspect in fatal USC attack entered country illegally, feds say
As reported in mainstream media
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-usc-attack-suspect-20140731-story.html

July 31, 2014, 3:24 PM

A 19-year-old charged with murder in connection with last week's fatal assault on a USC graduate student told immigration officials that he entered the country illegally about seven years ago, a federal official said..

The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said Jonathan DelCarmen made the comments during an interview at a Los Angeles County jail where he is being held in connection with the death of Xinran Ji, 24.

by Rosanna Xia, Kate Mather
 
A spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that an immigration detainer had been placed against DelCarmen. In a statement, spokeswoman Virginia Kice said ICE officials contacted DelCarmen at the jail Wednesday.

"ICE has lodged an immigration detainer against Mr. DelCarmen requesting that the Sheriff's Department turn him over to ICE for possible follow-up immigration enforcement action if and when he is released from local custody," Kice said.

There were no indications that DelCarmen had prior enforcement actions with the Department of Homeland Security, she added.

DelCarmen is one of four teenagers charged with capital murder in the July 24 assault that killed Ji, an engineering graduate student from China. Police said Ji was walking home from a study group about 12:45 a.m. when he was attacked near campus, just blocks away from his apartment.

Police and prosecutors say Ji was beaten with a bat and suffered a head injury. Detectives said they believe he may have tried to get away from his attackers, only to be beaten a second time, according to law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation.

Despite his injury, Ji managed to make it home to his apartment, where, police said, a roommate found his body later that morning.

DelCarmen and three others -- identified as Andrew Garcia, 18; Alberto Ochoa, 17; and Alejandra Guerrero, 16 -- were charged Tuesday in connection with Ji's death. The murder charge carries a special circumstance allegation that Ji was killed during an attempted robbery, allowing prosecutors the option of seeking the death penalty against DelCarmen and Garcia.

snip (complete LA Times story at link)

[rangerrebew]

I wonder if it is also a hate crime.