Friends and relatives of two teens accused in the beating death of a Mexican immigrant struggled to contain their relief as not-guilty verdicts were announced on the most serious charges against the former high school football stars Friday. Luis Ramirez died of blunt force injuries after a confrontation with a group of Pennsylania teens. Gasps filled the courtroom and some had to be restrained by sheriff's deputies as they tried to rush the defense table after Derrick Donchak, 19, and Brandon Piekarsky, 17, were acquitted of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and ethnic intimidation for the death of Luis Ramirez. Piekarsky was also found not guilty of third-degree murder for the death of Ramirez, who died of blunt force injuries after an encounter with the teens last summer.
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Teens acquitted of murder, aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation
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Verdict sends "extremely dangerous" precedent, advocacy group says
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Schuylkill County prosecutors alleged the beating was racially motivated
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Incident drew national attention to small town of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania
@placeholder was accused of delivering a fatal kick to Ramirez's head after he was knocked to the ground.