4 students from same school killed within a month in suspected gang violence

BRENTWOOD, N.Y. — Nisa Mickens’ lifeless, beaten body was found on Sept. 13, a day before her 16th birthday.

Her best friend Kayla Cuevas, 16, was found beaten to death a day later.

Days after that, the remains of Oscar Acosta, 19, and Miguel Garcia-Moran were found in a remote, industrial part of town.

The four were students at Brentwood High School. All of their deaths are suspected to be caused by gang violence.

"They don't play around," student Alexis Portillo, 16, told The Associated Press. "If they don't like you and if you do something to them, they will come after you. I'm not going to walk anywhere. We're definitely more cautious about that. I don't go out at night anymore."

>> Read more trending stories

The Salvadoran gang MS-13 is suspected of being involved in the deaths, although police have not made any arrests, a law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity told the AP.

At least 30 people on Long Island have been killed by the gang since 2010, authorities said.

School administrators are warning students not to wear clothing that could risk offending street gangs. A letter to parents advised that "children not wear clothing that could be considered to be gang-related."

 A "violent known gang member" is in federal custody, said Suffolk County police commissioner Timothy Sini. However, arrest documents and charges are under seal and no one has indicated that the suspect is tied to any of the killings.

Cox Media Group