YONKERS — A fifth man has been charged in connection with a beating attack that killed a 32-year-old city man in June in what police are calling a hate crime.
Abraham Ghaly, 18, of 31 Alder St. was arrested at 2:37 a.m. Saturday on a charge of second-degree murder, a felony, in connection with the death of Miguel Vega, 32, of 164 Waverly St.
Ghaly was not charged with a hate crime, Detective Lt. Maureen Zadorozny said.
Vega was killed because of his nationality, making his slaying a hate crime, Zadorozny said. She did not specify the nationality.
Three of the suspects — David Bendezu, 19, of 28 Fagan St.; Alexander Mitchell, 17, of 132 Morningside Place; and Joel Lopez, 17, of 51 Park Hill Ave. — are charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime.
Vega was beaten by a group of 10 to 14 men who knocked him to the ground and began punching, kicking and stomping him at Waverly Street and Park Hill Avenue.
His attackers stole his wallet and a bottle of soda.
A passing motorist stopped to help him and called 911.
Vega died three days later at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx.
Another man — Rodolfo Ponciano, 17, of 182 N. Broadway, who was arrested after Bendezu, Mitchell and Lopez — is charged with second-degree murder. He, too, is not charged with a hate crime.
Detective Keith Olson and Police Officer Calvin Carter arrested Ghaly on Western Avenue.
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