Ma'am, you sound fairly naive. Right or wrong, it's human nature to make assumptions. If I go to Mexico, the natives are going to look at me and make assumptions. They may be right or they may be wrong, but most of them are going to generalize in their minds things they think they know about me.

If it is going to take two weeks to ascertain this criminal's identity and status, I would say the chances are good that he's illegal.

As for me, I'm more than a little dismayed that your main concern seems to be for the problems the criminal may encounter rather than his victim.

BTW, if you don't know what "jumping around and acting all 'gangsta" means, you need to get out more.

...what is his freakin' name? No-one knows.

"The 20-year-old man had been booked into the jail under the name Juan Rodriquez, a name he gave officers Sunday. His place of birth is listed as Guatemala".

Then, wait a minute! I was just kidding, my real name isn't "Juan Rodriquez"
...let's see...try this one ...drumroll please....

"He said his real name is Juan Jose Olague Roman".

This guy is as illegal as the day is long. Call a spade a spade. Now, the newspaper may not be able to definitively identify him as "illegal", however, I can. This guy is an "illegal alien". And I'm as sure as the sun is shinning, he's "illegal", It's not a racist comment, it's a fact.

Law Enforcement will dilly dally around like they always do and we may never hear about this "illegal alien" again. However, I know, the guy is freakin' illegal...deal with it.

And Oh! BTW, what happened to Juan Solis and Nancy Cantu?

How old is Juan Solis? Is he 16, 22, 24, or 37 years old?
Is Juan blinded in one eye?
Is Juan here legally or illegally?
What his real name?
Where is Juan Solis?
What is the status of his case?

Maybe the Solicitor in Jasper County that was representing Juan in the nail gun case will tell us?

Except that you may be suffering from political correctness. Chances are you contracted that disease in the North East. There seems to be a large epidemic up there. There's also nothing wrong with someone who makes assumptions based on facts. Every time it's about to rain, it gets cloudy, so it is safe to assume that if it gets cloudy, it will rain. Sometimes it may not, but it doesn't change the fact that dark clouds mean rain. It is a fact that the majority of hispanics here in the lowcountry are illegal aliens. There's nothing racial about this. You wanna know how I know it's not racial? Because I am hispanic and if you made that claim, I would agree 100%. Being hispanic doesn't bias me from seeing the truth. It certainly doesn't help when the "suspect" lies about his name or where he lives.
Please have a great day, ma'am.
Thank you

the reason we feel this way is because thats how we were raised , to except people for people and not to lable them based on race. (MOST, not all) older people in this town dont have that ability. they were raised in diffrent times. to some white people its intimidating to see a crowed of black people jumping around in a nice respectfull part of town.
my issue with the dui murder case lies with his actions not his leagle status. anyone can argue the fact (if he is ileagle) it wouldnt have happend if he wasnt here. it also wouldnt have happend if he wasnt drinking and driving, and it also wouldnt have happend if we didnt provide him with work , and the money to go out drinking. stop giving mexicans work if you feel that way.

Ok Meghann - here are the facts of life, so to speak:

The defendant in the Joshua George case gave a false name, when discovered, he another name that may or may not be truthful. He cannot produce any evidence that he is here legally. Literally 98% of Americans citizens can produce SOME evidence that they are on the grid. We pay taxes, have bills, own property, vehicles, had insurance at some point, there is some evidence that we are here legally even if you do not have a passport [most do not] or a drivers license [even fewer lack this or a expired DL if they are elderly or perhaps a State ID card]. Even a library or voter card can prove identity. I dare say that a 1st grader could do a better job of proving identity than Mr. Roman.

Mr. Roman, if that is his name, had none of those documents. He gave a false name. He ran from the scene. He rented a room in a home with 'large' family, to be kind. I think there is a little bit more here than a hispanic name and not having a drivers license. The chances of Mr. Roman being here without papers to work seems somewhat higher than a man in Boston driving an SUV who was previously arrested, convicted and somewhere along the way had his identity verfied by the police and the courts.

As for the running around all 'gansta' down Carteret Street, I dare say that such is a description that most people can figure out. Are you being so naive that you pretend not to know what that type of activity might look like ? Or do you truly do not have clue as to what that might appear to be?

Further, this is a blog, not a news gathering organization. We have the right, nay expectation, to post OPINION on this site. This person may or may not be racist but they certainly painted a clear picture of what they experienced, accurately or not. For one the image painted is somewhat comical in the extent of it, similar conduct can be seen daily if it was what I believe it to look like, how would you phrase it, as a journalist of course:

"Several young men of African American descent cavorted down Carteret Street in Beaufort, making various signs with their hands, celebrating the opening of a recording studio for local musicians. The main focus of the studio will be urban music, but will also permit other styles of music to be recorded as well."

Says the same thing, does it not? Perhaps HOW it is said differs but the scene is communicated the same.

Too many people get too worked up as to how people say things instead of WHAT the say, and if what they say makes the slightest bit of sense at all. You can call me a Yankee cracker or whatever you want, but the CONTENT of what you say is more important. I'd rather have a young man come up, call me a yankee cracker to my face, and communicate thought worthy of discussion, than listen to that same person call me a yankee cracker in tone and method of speech and have nothing meaningful to say. An intelligent message is more worthy of respect than meaningless drivel delivered respectfully.

with regard to the illegal alien problem. Call Sheriff Tanner, and ask any SC Highway Patrol if this is a problem. They will tell you that it is out-of-control. At least that is what the Highway Patrolman said to my son when an illegal immigrant hit his vehicle, and he had no license, no insurance on the vehicle, and he, too, ran from the scene. He even had time to change clothes before the police found him down the road. When you are effected, and hear the attitude of our law enforcement then you may have a different opinion. I never really thought too much about it until this accident, but I have learned from our insurance company that this happens on a DAILY basis! Astonishing - a daily basis. My son was not injured, but thousands of dollars worth of damage was done to his vehicle which our insurance paid for. This is definitely going to make rates go up on everyone because they have no way to go against the one at fault. He went to jail, but when he got out - who knows where he went.

I am not prejudice, but let me tell you my eyes are opened to this problem that needs a solution. I will not assume every hispanic is illegal nor will I assume that he/she is uninsured, but I will tell you that I am much more suspicious now than I ever have been.