Suffolk Communities Come Together To Mourn Four Young Men Killed By Gang Members

Residents of Central Islip and the surrounding communities recently came together following the death of four young men who were recently found murdered by members of the MS-13 gang.

Last Wednesday, the bodies of 16-year-old Justin Llivicura, of East Patchogue, 20-year-old Michael Banegas, of Brentwood, 18-year-old Jorge Tigre, of Bellport, and 18-year-old Jefferson Villalobos, of Pompano Beach, Fla., were found in a Central Islip park.

On Monday, a vigil organized by the nonprofit group Angels of Long Island was held at Bellport High School in Brookhaven where Llivicura and Tigre attended.

Over 100 people attended the vigil including Suffolk Police Commissioner Timothy Sini, Suffolk Legislators Kate Browning (WF-Shirley) and Rob Calarco (D-Patchogue), State Assemblyman Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), South Country Central School District Superintendent Joseph Giani and school board president Carol Malin, according to a report in Newsday.

During the event, attendees which also included family, friends and classmates, held up glow sticks and prayed together in honor of the two students.

“He was just a good boy,” Llivicura’s uncle, Celio Llivicura of Patchogue, who was holding a large picture of his nephew, told Newsday. “No problems.”

Since the discovery of the bodies, the Bellport High School has increased security. In addition, Sachem School District superintendent Kenneth E. Graham released a letter identifying one of the deceased as a former Sachem High School East student.

The letter identifies the former student as "Michael Yadir Lopez." It is unclear if the letter was referring to Michael Banegas.

According to the letter, counseling services has been offered to Sachem students.

"We will make every effort to support our students and staff members as they cope with the grief resulting from this tragedy," Graham wrote in the letter. "As we all mourn the passing of a young life, we will keep in our thoughts the family, friends, and students most affected by this event.

A visitation for Llivcura is scheduled for Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Robertaccio Funeral Home in Patchogue.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday starting at 10 a.m. at the St. Joseph the Worker Church in East Patchogue.

A service Banegas, 20, will be held from on Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Rose's Funeral Home in Bay Shore.

In addition, a family member of Banegas started a GoFundMe page to help raise money to send his remains back to Honduras. The goal of the page is to raise $10,000. As of Tuesday, $3,342 has been raised.

Tigre's family told Newsday they will be planning a funeral service later this week.

On Tuesday night, the Central Islip Coalition of Good Neighbors will be discussing the killings at a meeting at the Knights of Columbus hall at 62 Carleton Ave. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m.