Cincinnati police are still trying to determine whether a man killed in Mount Auburn last month was shot because he was Mexican and listened to Latin music in his car.

        But as the investigation continues, community leaders are urging restraint in use of the term “hate crime.”

        A premature accusation, they say, could ignite problems between African-Americans and Hispanics in a city already troubled by racial issues.

Suspect

        “We just don't want to jump out there and say, "There are black folks just running around shooting Hispanics,'” said Cecil Thomas, director of the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission.

        “I don't want the Hispanic community to think there's this massive attack against them. And we don't want the black community to think we're accusing them.”

        There have been some clashes between African-Americans and Hispanics, especially in Over-the-Rhine, Mr. Thomas said. Hispanics who are in the United States illegally tend to carry cash because they can't open bank accounts — but that also makes them robbery targets, he said.

        Mr. Thomas met with Sister Margarita Brewer, director of Su Casa Hispanic Ministry, and promised help with community forums and other healing programs — if the incident is found to be a hate crime.

        Until then, he said, “all we can do is let the Hispanic community know there's an ongoing investigation. It hasn't been swept under the carpet as just another shooting.”

        Witnesses say Ricardo Rangel-Tapia was shot dead early Feb. 26 by an African-American in another car who shouted “(Expletive) Mexicans!” before he fired. But police have been careful not to stress the “hate crime” designation, saying they need more information.

        Mr. Rangel-Tapia, 23, was a cook and newlywed who planned to bring his wife here. Mr. Thomas hopes the possibility of a $1,000 Crime Stoppers reward will bring out information: “Somebody knows what happened.”

        Police on March 8 began circulating a sketch of the heavy-set black woman witnesses said was driving the 1989 cream-colored Honda from which the fatal shots were fired.

        The same day, the Rev. William J. Jansen of St. Charles Church took Mr. Rangel-Tapia's funeral as a chance to stress making a commitment to peace and justice.

        “Because Ricardo suffered a violent death doesn't mean we have to follow the same path of violence,” he said.

        Sister Brewer said it's not for her to say whether Mr. Rangel-Tapia's death should be considered a hate crime. That designation is less important, she said, than keeping local Hispanics informed about the investigation so they feel that something is being done to help them.

        “I don't want to be an accuser,” she said. “I think we have to be very careful when we accuse people of things. I cannot judge in that way. That is for the police to say.”

Related stories:
Hate crime not same as federal crime
       

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