The banter and bustle of Forest Hills High School’s halls grew a little quieter with the devastating news that Anthony Lee, a cherished 17-year-old student from the Class of 1999, had passed away. His trajectory and presence were woven into the fabric of our shared youth, and he will be remembered and mourned indefinitely. His tragic story is still remembered 26 years later, doubling as a reminder of the past’s unforgivable mistakes.
On April 23, 1999, around 7 p.m. on the block of 63rd Avenue and Alderton Street, Anthony Lee and his friend Elisa Luu attended a party. During the frazzled party, there were concerns regarding illegal substances, resulting in a fight among a few teenagers. After the party, while Anthony and Elisa were out walking, four people approached them—three youths of Anthony’s age and one twenty-year-old.
One of the teenagers who was involved in the earlier fight at the party had accused Anthony of punching him earlier. The four perpetrators had begun bludgeoning Anthony with baseball bats without any evident proof, just an arbitrary accusation.
They all rotated in inflicting him pain. The person who injured Anthony most severely was Thomas Hernandez, a twenty-year-old who hit him with the bat repeatedly and severely fractured his skull. After sustaining his injuries at Jamaica Hospital for two days, Anthony passed away.
Tragic cases such as this make one ponder: What might trigger someone to commit acts with such malice and vengeance against an individual? According to the Queens Chronicle, Thomas Hernandez testified that he “got caught up in the moment.”
These kinds of insensitive excuses and denials are only enabling brutality and costing lives. There is ample more to the narrative, so these mere excuses have to be terminated.
The majority of incidents that culminate in violent behavior are triggered by rumors and false accusations, as was the case with Anthony.
Unfortunately, even after 26 years, these physical altercations continue to occur. According to AP of Mathematics Mr. Jones, he’s “never seen a fight just happen out of nowhere. It’s usually a build-up of misunderstandings between two people or multiple people. Then their friends will jump in and angst them up.”
This is an account of the real motives behind the vast majority of disputes and hostility among teenagers present day. The passage of time between Anthony’s case and present-day disputes among teenagers demonstrates how misunderstandings and speculations about increased violence remain ubiquitous.
Although it has been twenty-six years, little has changed on this topic, making this level of violence susceptible to any young adult today. It’s inevitable at this point in time because impulsive people and violence will always be out there, so recognizing how to avoid them is critical for one’s own safety and well-being.
In the event of an incident, everyone should be informed of certain critical parameters. For instance, being cognizant of one’s civil liberties in the event of an unfortunate incident, such as Anthony’s, is significant. Individuals who are young and may find themselves as witnesses, such as Elisa Luu, should be aware of their protected and guaranteed rights to avoid legal complications.
Personal injury lawyer, Nabila S. Uddin states, “You are not obligated to say anything official under the law. That’s why when you’re involved in something similar to this, you
need to get a lawyer immediately. Whatever you say can be used against you in court, so make sure you are careful and confide in people you can really trust.”
Teenagers and members of the public should be reminded of the legal rights that are given to them, so that if something happens, they are familiar with what to do and how to navigate the situation legally.
Uddin explains, “These kinds of things can’t always be curtailed, but that’s why it’s important to be associated with the right people. The best advice I can give is don’t ever do anything that compromises your own safety. You are only capable of controlling your own actions, not those of anybody else. So don’t be too keen to trust others around you so easily.”
Anthony’s death was devastating to many, as he died as a result of other people’s imprudent acts and fabricated accusations.
Though even after his death, he continues to contribute to the world today, as his story can inform young minds about affiliation with barbarism and how to steer clear of the wrong crowd.
The halls of Forest Hills High School are louder now, but this time they will reverberate your name in remembrance, Anthony Lee.
