Another tragic MySpace hoax
MYSPACE HOAX’S TRAGIC TWISTS:
In the wake of the Megan Meier tragedy the New York Post has run an article about another MySpace hoax that happened in 2006 that left one teen dead, a father on trial for manslaughter, and his son in hiding.
Aaron White was a black teen who befriended a car club consisting of white kids known as the “Blackout Club”. The name comes from the dark colors of their flashy cars.
Somone had made a fake MySpace of White that said he wanted to rape Blackout Club member Craig Martin’s sister.
Another club member, Daniel Cicciaro, was so enraged he gathered four of his friends to confront White.
As the posse sped to the White home, Cicciaro phoned Aaron in a call that degenerated into a screaming match, according to testimony from the driver of the car, Alex Delgado. During the conversation, Cicciaro allegedly said, “You’re acting like a n- - - - -.”
When they reached the home, an armed John White and his son stood outside and told the teens to leave. But the tense confrontation escalated as racial epithets flew, according to his defense team.
According to court testimony by Joseph Serrano, a member of Cicciaro’s posse, White pointed his gun at Cicciaro’s face.
“If you don’t get out of here, I’m going to shoot you,” Serrano recalled White saying.
“You’re not going to shoot me,” Cicciaro brazenly replied, according to his friend. “If you’re going to shoot me, shoot me.”
Cicciaro then slapped the gun away, according to testimony. White’s attorneys maintain that the gun discharged when Cicciaro lunged for it. However, members of Cicciaro’s posse testified that White raised the gun again and fired point blank at their friend.
Meanwhile Aaron White has gone into hiding because of death threats.
The fake MySpace was made by another friend of the Blackout Club, Michael Longo. Longo was allegedly Aaron White’s best friend.
Some friend.
Tags: aaron-white, Daniel-Cicciaro, john-white, manslaughter, michael-longo, the-blackout-clubRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Fakes
7 opinions for Another tragic MySpace hoax
sara
Dec 9, 2007 at 11:35 pm
what the hell is wrong with people?
Daniel Cicciaro murder 8/09/06 Riverhead, NY « Bonnie’s Blog of Crime
Dec 21, 2007 at 1:20 am
[…] Another tragic MySpace hoax Funeral for a Slain Teenage Car Detailer 600 MOURN SLAIN TEENAGER Miller Place Shooting NY Man on Trial in Slaying of White Teen Parents of shot white boy to black dad: ‘Don’t take the law into your hands’ Defense ready to make its case in Cicciaro killing Jury deliberates case of Internet hoax that led to deadly shooting Jury in Shooting of L.I. Teenager Queries Judge Posted in crime, murder, murder in the 21st Century. Tags: , 2006, Daniel Cicciaro, homicide, John White, MySpace, New York, shooting, trial. […]
steve
Dec 23, 2007 at 3:39 am
Daniel White is guilty of shooting Daniel Cicciaro, he admitted he did it. So from that point of view the jury’s decision is valid. However, even Daniel’s friends admitted he used the “n” word and admitted the unwanted teens were asked to leave the White families property. Daniel played two card, the tough guy card and the race card, he lost. For all the people out there who don’t understand the “n” word thing: If you use this word in an angry, mean or hateful when talking to someone who identifies him or herself as “black” or “african american” you have crossed a line in the black person’s mind and you are now a racist and a threat. White people don’t understand this because there just isn’t anything like the “n” word that the whole white race identifies with, but now, at least one family might better understand the implications of using this word carelessly. Mr. White lost in court, but the Cicciaro family loses in life because their family member is dead. This reality will hit them in the days to come. Daniel would still be alive today (maybe, it was over a year ago after all) had he 1. minded his own business, 2. not been drunk, 3. Left the White property when asked to leave. or Not gone to the property at all. Ultimately Daniel died for no good reason, and although Mr. White may have been holding the gun, Daniel must ultimately share 50% of the blame for his own premature death. Daniel’s parents now no longer have their son, their lives will never be the same, and no matter how you look at it, their dead son is partially to blame for his own death. Not sure why they feel like celebrating.
Katty
Dec 23, 2007 at 3:26 pm
The photograph of Daniel’s family cheering the guilty verdict is chilling, as is his father’s statement about going to Disney. It’s obvious they were out for revenge, not justice. Mr. White’s family lost everything, and it IS about race. If a crowd of black teens charged Daniel’s house, they would probably all be dead, and there wouldn’t even be a trial.
Daniel is responsible for his actions, including believing and acting on a fake myspace account.
The boy who created it is also responsible. Will he be charged with a crime?
TK
Dec 24, 2007 at 12:09 am
In John White’s mind, he was protecting his family from a threatening racist. Yet, in Daniel Cicciaro’s mind he was protecting his friend’s sister froma threatening rapist. The race issue is of little signifigance. Cicciaro and his friends were there to attack him for his ALLEGED comments, not his skin color. No the real issue of this case is myspace and vigilante justice. I for one blame Michael Longo, for the boy’s death, and the father’s conviction. Neither of them did anything wrong except recklessly take the law into their own hands. I usually sympathise with vigilante’s, but these actions prove we must stop and think before we act. Had Michael Longo not posted those remarks, none of this would have ever happened. Cicciaro would not have considered White someone worth attacking, and John White would not have had to pull a gun on him to get him away from their house. Cicciaro family would have their son, and the White family would have their father if it wasn’t for Michael Longo.
Kimberly
Feb 17, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Another tragic event for everyone involved. Michael Longo must be charged on some account. It’s a shame how lies can lead to separation, death, and destruction of the human race. Mr. Longo you share in much more of the responsibility of the ill(s) at hand!
LJ
Apr 6, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I saw this story featured on 20/20 on Friday. It is truly tragic and this story shows irresponsbility on many levels. This story reminded me a lot of the Megan Meiir case. Michael Longo and others who used the fake MySpace account should be held responisble. I find it sick that they would send rape threats in Aaron’s name. The next thing I question is why didn’t the girl who received the threats go to the police instead of waiting nine months later to tell drunk teens about it at party which Aaron was attending. I think Michael Longo and the teenage girl Jenny Martin should some irresponsiblity and also Jenny’s parents were hosting the party that Daniel and others were attending and there was underage drinking. I read another article that there is no traces of the fake MySpace account and the messages so it is unlikely that Michael Longo could be charged with a cyber crime. There was irresponsbiltiy on Aaron and John White’s part if they felt threatened they should made sure their house was locked and they should have called police when the group showed up. Maybe Michael Longo will spend the rest of his life haunted by how two families had their lives ruined.
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