A terrible, brutal robbery on Staten Island: A group of teenagers beat a man to death for $60 on Saturday night. Richard Salinas, a 33 year old father of two, was headed out to buy a phone card for his wife when teens John Messiha, Daniel Betancourt and Travis King attacked him on Van Pelt Avenue. The three teens were charged with crime. One neighbor in Mariners Harbor told the Daily News, "I've lived here 27 years and nothing like this has ever happened."
Salinas had moved from Mexico eight years ago, working his way up from busboy to head chef at the International House of Pancakes on Richmond Avenue. His coworkers said he worked 100 hours a week, and his boss Jhong Kim closed the restaurant yesterday in Salinas's honor. Kim also said he would match the donations coworkers were raising for burial expenses. The public can also call and make a donation - (718) 494-4467.
