An illegal immigrant from Peru and African-American murder victims

Jeff McKay:

Funeral services were held over the weekend for three young people whose execution-style murders have galvanized crime-ridden Newark, N.J.

"Enough is enough!" Newark Mayor Cory Booker exclaimed at one of the three funerals on Saturday. He is urging community involvement as a means of reducing violence in the city.

Gov. Jon Corzine also spoke to the people of Newark. "As a human being, not just your governor, I am here with a broken heart, a sad heart, a heavy heart," Corzine said at one of the funerals. "These children deserved better."

The murders of Dashon Harvey and Iofemi Hightower, both 20 years old, and Terrance Aeriel, 18, were particularly brutal, many believe. Police said the three robbery victims (and a fourth who survived) were ordered to kneel in front of a wall, before being shot in the back of the head.

Police have arrested three suspects, two of them 15 years old. But outrage is particularly keen when it comes to the third suspect, a 28-year-old illegal immigrant from Peru, who was out on the streets despite two prior arrests this year, including one for the rape of a little girl.

In State Superior Court on Aug. 10, the day after his arrest, Carranza spoke in Spanish and had his comments translated for the judge. He pleaded not guilty to three charges of murder, attempted murder and robbery. He admitted that he did not have a valid Social Security card.

Relatives of the victims and many others are wondering how Carranza could have been allowed back on the streets after two prior felony arrests this year. Carranza had already been indicted on 31 counts involving the rape and sexual assault of a girl who had been in his care since she was four years old. He also faced aggravated assault and weapons charges stemming from a fight in a bar.

Despite those felony charges, the illegal immigrant had been released on bail twice -- $150,000 bail in the sexual abuse case and $50,000 bail in the weapons case.

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