Candlelight vigil caps off ten days of anxiety

Posted at: 07/20/2012 11:44 PM | Updated at: 07/22/2012 9:57 AM
By: Dan Levy

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AMSTERDAM - Several dozen people came together in Amsterdam Friday night for a candlelight vigil after two teenagers, earlier in the day, were charged with murdering two other teens.

The vigil capped at Riverfront Park capped off a ten day period of immeasurable anxiety and tangible uncertainty that's left much of that community in tears.

"I have children and they couldn't even sleep because they didn't know what happened to the children," said Kiaso Walker. "We didn't know if there was someone out there killing children.

State Police say there actually was someone out there who did kill two children. The bodies of 16-year old Paul Damphier and 13-year old Jonathan DeJesus were found Thursday morning in a remote field off Snooks Corners Road in the Town of Florida, just outside the Amsterdam city limits.

Two other teens, 16-year old Anthony Brasmeister, along with a 15-year old male have been charged with second degree murder.

News Channel 13 has learned the identity of the 15-year old suspect, who police have labeled as the "prime suspect" and the shooter, but we are withholding his name because of his age.

Kiaso Walker says the 15-year old deserves 25-years to life.

"Their parents can go visit them," Walker points out. "The other parents can't go see their children."

It was both parents and children who turned out for the candlelight march: many were friends of the victims, many were neighbors, some had no connection what so ever.

"We couldn't believe that they died," said 13-year old Joarys Muniz, "We don't know them but we wanted to come here."

"It's heartbreaking how young people would take the lives of other young people," said Judith Hernandez. "It would be nice if people would learn to speak or take out their anger some other ways."

"They say Amsterdam is a small city with a big heart and I just want the big heart to get together to support this family through this tragic time," said Miguel Gonzalez, who organized the vigil.

While many people were reflecting on the tragic circumstances others were focusing on crime, punishment, and justice.

Valire Banks believes the 15-year old should be treated as an adult because he committed an adult crime.

"I think he actually thought about it," Banks began, "I think it was actually premeditated. I don't think it was like an accident."