This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/22/family-grieves-machete-killing-florida-teen

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Family grieves machete killing of teen as police say attack was planned Family grieves after machete killing of teen as police say attack was planned
(about 5 hours later)
José Amaya Guardado’s mother said she brought her son to the US nine years ago to escape the violence rampant in their native El Salvador. But now his family is mourning his death, in what police describe as a brutal machete attack. José Amaya Guardado’s mother said she brought her son to the US nine years ago to escape the violence rampant in their native El Salvador. But now his family is mourning his death in what police describe as a brutal machete attack.
Related: One murder every hour: how El Salvador became the homicide capital of the worldRelated: One murder every hour: how El Salvador became the homicide capital of the world
“I brought my son from there because they were killing people,” Lucia Guardado said, in Spanish, at the family’s south Miami-Dade home. “I never imagined they would do something like that to my son here.”“I brought my son from there because they were killing people,” Lucia Guardado said, in Spanish, at the family’s south Miami-Dade home. “I never imagined they would do something like that to my son here.”
Miami-Dade police have charged four of Amaya Guardado’s classmates with second-degree murder: Kaheem Arbelo, 20; Jonathan Lucas, 18; Christian Colón, 19; and Desiray Strickland, 18. Detectives said they are expecting to make a fifth arrest. Miami-Dade police have charged four of Amaya Guardado’s classmates with second-degree murder: Kaheem Arbelo, 20; Jonathan Lucas, 18; Christian Colón, 19; and Desiray Strickland, 18. Detectives said they were expecting to make a fifth arrest.
According to an arrest report, the suspects had planned the attack two weeks in advance. The report accuses them of luring Amaya Guardado, 17, to a wooded area near Homestead Job Corps, a live-in school and vocational training program for at-risk students run by the US Labor Department.According to an arrest report, the suspects had planned the attack two weeks in advance. The report accuses them of luring Amaya Guardado, 17, to a wooded area near Homestead Job Corps, a live-in school and vocational training program for at-risk students run by the US Labor Department.
That was where Amaya Guardado was hacked to death with a machete and left in a shallow grave that the suspects had dug in advance, police said.That was where Amaya Guardado was hacked to death with a machete and left in a shallow grave that the suspects had dug in advance, police said.
Family members began searching for Amaya Guardado after he went missing on 28 June. His brother discovered his body a few days later.Family members began searching for Amaya Guardado after he went missing on 28 June. His brother discovered his body a few days later.
Amaya Guardado’s father, Santos Amaya, said his son began attending the school months before his death. Amaya said his son, the youngest of six siblings, wanted to learn how to be a mechanic, but the family didn’t know the school took in students with criminal records.Amaya Guardado’s father, Santos Amaya, said his son began attending the school months before his death. Amaya said his son, the youngest of six siblings, wanted to learn how to be a mechanic, but the family didn’t know the school took in students with criminal records.
He said his son was roommates with Arbelo, who the police report describes as the primary attacker in the group. Police have not disclosed any motive in the death.He said his son was roommates with Arbelo, who the police report describes as the primary attacker in the group. Police have not disclosed any motive in the death.
Amaya Guardado’s parents said he was a quiet boy who kept to himself for the most part and never bothered anyone. The parents said they believe the suspects had been bullying the younger, bespectacled boy and taking money from him before his death.Amaya Guardado’s parents said he was a quiet boy who kept to himself for the most part and never bothered anyone. The parents said they believe the suspects had been bullying the younger, bespectacled boy and taking money from him before his death.
“When you go there, they only show you the good,” Santos Amaya said of the school, speaking in Spanish. “They don’t show you the ugly.”“When you go there, they only show you the good,” Santos Amaya said of the school, speaking in Spanish. “They don’t show you the ugly.”
A telephone message left late on Friday with the Labor Department was not immediately returned. In a statement released on Wednesday, a spokesman said security was the department’s top priority.A telephone message left late on Friday with the Labor Department was not immediately returned. In a statement released on Wednesday, a spokesman said security was the department’s top priority.
In the arrest report, police said Strickland complained about missing the start of the beating because she walked away to urinate in the woods. The school is located in a remote area of Miami-Dade and is surrounded by wooded areas, with small roads leading into the woods.In the arrest report, police said Strickland complained about missing the start of the beating because she walked away to urinate in the woods. The school is located in a remote area of Miami-Dade and is surrounded by wooded areas, with small roads leading into the woods.
According to the report, Amaya Guardado was ordered to lie in the shallow grave after the initial attack, but he made one last attempt to fight off the assailants. That was when police say Arbelo struck Amaya Guardado several more times with the machete, until his face caved in.According to the report, Amaya Guardado was ordered to lie in the shallow grave after the initial attack, but he made one last attempt to fight off the assailants. That was when police say Arbelo struck Amaya Guardado several more times with the machete, until his face caved in.
The suspects then pushed Amaya Guardado into the grave and buried him, according to the report. Strickland and another suspect stayed behind after the killing to have sex, it added.The suspects then pushed Amaya Guardado into the grave and buried him, according to the report. Strickland and another suspect stayed behind after the killing to have sex, it added.
The suspects cleaned up the scene, burned the victim’s belongings and their own clothes and got rid of the weapon, authorities said.The suspects cleaned up the scene, burned the victim’s belongings and their own clothes and got rid of the weapon, authorities said.
Strickland was charged on Wednesday while Arbelo, Lucas and Colon were arrested last week. An attorney for Lucas said he could not comment on the case. An attorney listed for Colon and Strickland said he had withdrawn, and it was not immediately clear if replacements had been assigned. An attorney listed for Arbelo did not return calls or emails.Strickland was charged on Wednesday while Arbelo, Lucas and Colon were arrested last week. An attorney for Lucas said he could not comment on the case. An attorney listed for Colon and Strickland said he had withdrawn, and it was not immediately clear if replacements had been assigned. An attorney listed for Arbelo did not return calls or emails.
Attempts to reach family members of the suspects were unsuccessful.Attempts to reach family members of the suspects were unsuccessful.