(philly/ap) Luis Ramirez, a 25-year-old Mexican immigrant, crossed paths late one night with some teenage football players who had been out drinking in their small Pennsylvania coal town. Taunts ensued. One youngster threw a punch, knocking Ramirez to the ground, and another followed with a kick to the head, authorities said yesterday, when they charged three teens in the death of the farmhand and factory worker. Brandon Piekarsky, 16, and Colin Walsh, 17, were charged as adults with homicide and ethnic intimidation. Derrick Donchak, 18, was charged with aggravated assault and ethnic intimidation. More charges are expected in the case, which has roiled Shenandoah, the small, economically depressed town where the attack occurred and where police have reported friction between whites and a growing Hispanic population. "As a result of this crime, a young man has lost his life, many other lives have been devastated, and the borough of Shenandoah has been filled with tensions between many ethnic groups," Schuylkill County District Attorney James Goodman said. Ramirez, who was in the country illegally, was beaten July 12 during the confrontation in a park. Authorities said the defendnants used ethnic slurs during the fight, but declined to say whether Ramirez's ethnicity had been the motive. The three, all Shenandoah residents, played football at Shenandoah Valley High School. Donchak, now enrolled at Bloomsburg University, was the quarterback last season. He declined comment after the arraignment, but lawyers for Piekarsky and Walsh said there was no evidence to support the homicide charges. The three, all Shenandoah residents, played football at Shenandoah Valley High School. Donchak, now enrolled at Bloomsburg University, was the quarterback last season. He declined comment after the arraignment, but lawyers for Piekarsky and Walsh said there was no evidence to support the homicide charges. According to a police affidavit, the defendants and three 17-year-olds were drinking in a wooded area of Shenandoah, then went to a block party sponsored by the borough's Polish American Fire Co. After leaving the party about 11 p.m., the group walked toward a park, where they encountered Ramirez and a teenage girl. The youths goaded Ramirez and the girl, saying, "You should get out of this neighborhood" and "Get your Mexican boyfriend out of here," documents said. After Ramirez and the girl began walking away, someone yelled an ethnic slur at him, court documents said. He responded, "What's your problem?"

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