New clues in NYU student's tragic death

(New York-WABC, April 7, 2006) (WABC) -- There are new clues tonight as to who may have chased an NYU student to his death. Now, police are stepping up their search for his killers.

20-year-old John Hehman died afer he was chased into traffic on 125th Street in Harlem Saturday night. Investigators now believe the group of teens responsible for his death - may also be terrorizing several businesses in the area.

Eyewitness News reporter N.J. Burkett is in Harlem with the story.

Apparently for the past several weeks, a pack of young men are going in and out of a number of local businesses terrorizing shopkeepers and their customers. Tonight, detectives say these may be the same people who chased the victim to his death.

Detectives hit the streets this afternoon armed with new leads as posters went up on street corners across Harlem.

One woman said she knows some of the young men questioned by police.

"That vehicle hit that white man and killed that white man. They're around here grabbing all our kids ... these kids had nothing to do with it," she said.

John Broderick Hehman was 20-years-old and a junior at NYU. Witnesses say he ran headlong into traffic and was struck by a silver Mercedes in the middle of 125th Street on Saturday night. The driver did not flee the scene and has not been charged.

Earlier this week, one witness told us Hehman was chased into the street.

"I saw the guy run out into the street ... a bunch of people were chasing him," the witness said.

Now, police are investigating reports that Hehman's pursuers shouted racist threats -- and may be the same young men who harassed and in some cases terrorized merchants and their customers along 125th Street.

The manager of Popeye's Fried Chicken told us that it happened at her restaurant several times.

"Mostly kids, about 20-22," she said.

Tonight, Harlem residents overwhelmingly want this case solved.

Police say their eyewitness accounts so far may not be reliable. The motive in this case is still not entirely clear, and for that reason this has not been classified a bias crime. Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD.

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