NEW YORK ( CNN ) -- A grand jury has indicted a Long Island teenager on a charge of second-degree murder as a hate crime in the stabbing death of an Ecuadoran immigrant this month , according to the indictment , unsealed Thursday in Suffolk County District Court . Marcello Lucero , 37 , was stabbed to death in an attack that police say was a hate crime . Jeffrey Conroy , 17 , had been charged with first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime , one count each of gang assault and conspiracy and two counts each of attempted assault and attempted gang assault . The `` hate crime '' designation would add to any sentence imposed upon conviction . Six teenage co-defendants were arraigned Thursday on the same assault , conspiracy and gang assault charges as Conroy . One of the six faces an additional charge of criminal mischief . Marcello Lucero , 37 , was walking to a friend 's apartment in Patchogue , New York , when he was attacked late in the evening of November 8 , police said . Officers found that he had been stabbed in the chest , and he died of his injuries . A friend with Lucero was not injured . Authorities believe that Conroy stabbed Lucero . His arraignment on the murder charge is scheduled for Monday . The seven youths were trying `` to find Latinos and to assault them , '' Suffolk County Police Detective Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick said at the time . `` That was what they went out to do that night , and that 's exactly what they did do . ... They were actively seeking victims , '' he said . Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer said all seven `` admitted their involvement and their role in this crime . But all seven pleaded not guilty at their initial arraignment November 10 . Attorneys for two of the boys told CNN before the unsealing Thursday that their clients are not guilty and disputed the hate crime designation . `` Anthony Hartford had no physical contact with the unfortunate victim who was stabbed , '' attorney Laurence Silverman said . `` My client denies he harbors any ill will toward any person because of race or national origin . My client comes from a mixed background . His great-grandmother was born and raised in Puerto Rico . '' `` Kevin Shea is not guilty , '' attorney Steven M. Politi said . `` The charge that this was a racially motivated crime is inaccurate . ... These are young boys and should enjoy presumption of innocence , and I hope everyone reserves judgment until the facts come out . '' The other defendants are Jordan Dasch , Nicholas Hausch , Christopher Overton and Jose Pacheco . All but Overton , who is 16 , are 17 years old . Dasch also faces a charge of criminal mischief .
Jeffrey Conroy , 17 , faces count of murder as a hate crime . Conroy had been charged with with first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime . Conroy , six others tried `` to find Latinos and to assault them , '' police say . Marcello Lucero , 37 , and a friend were attacked by a group of teens .