Arraignment in Summit Beating Death Set for Friday Morning

Khayri Williams-Clark, 18, of Summit, who is charged with manslaughter in the death of Abelino Mazaniego, is scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday.

Williams-Clark will be arraigned on manslaughter charges at Union County Superior Court in Elizabeth at 10 a.m, before Judge Joan Robinson Gross. 

Williams-Clark was charged by police Wednesday along with a 17-year-old minor in connection with the death of 47-year-old Summit resident Abelino Mazaniego, who worked as a dishwasher and cook's assistant at Dabbawalla, an Indian restaurant on Springfield Avenue, for a little over three years.

According to Union County Prosecutor Theodore Romankow, Mazaniego was on a bench in the promenade off of Springfield Avenue on July 17 around 9:30 p.m. when he was approached by a group of teenagers, said Romankow in a press release.

The Promendade is a common gathering place in the heart of downtown Summit with benches, a fountain and artwork. It is located near the Tier Parking Garage on Springfield Avenue.

Colin Crasto, restaurant manager at Dabbawalla, said the restaurant was closed for the day on Saturday because of an off-site catering job. A few employees stayed behind at the restaurant to help prep what was needed and Crasto sent Mazaniego home around 8 p.m.

Crasto said he believes Mazaniego went across the street to Doria Pizzeria for a slice of pizza after work.

"And the next day he was supposed to come in," Crasto said. "Obviously he didn't show."

According to the investigation, the two teens facilitated the attack, said Romankow, causing serious injury. It appears to be an unprovoked attack, although the case remains under investigation.

Police were called to the scene soon after the attack where they discovered Mazaniego suffering from severe head trauma. He was transported to Overlook Hospital and died on Tuesday afternoon, having never regained consciousness, Romankow said.

However some who know the victim and his family say that Mazaniego walked to the parking lot next to the Summit Train Station and that is where he collapsed and eventually was taken to Overlook.

"He was very hardworking, gentle, punctual, always had a smile," Crasto said. "There was a big language barrier obviously because none of us spoke Spanish, but we overcame it."

Martin Mendz, a chef at Cafe Mavi where Mazaniego's son Avelino has worked for three years, said the victim has two sons and two daughters, all natives of El Salvador.

On Tuesday after his father died at Overlook, Mendz says Avelino came back to work.

"Everyone was crying," Mendz said. "He said he couldn't stay there."

Cesar Salazar, a waiter at Fiorino, said some who know the family are trying to set up a fund for donations to help the family.

"I could not believe it," Salazar said of the attack. "It's unthinkable."

Crasto also said the family wants to bring the body back to El Salvador for burial. Mazaniego's wife came by the restaurant on Monday asking Crasto to find out when her husband's paycheck, issued Friday, had been cashed.

As far he knows, Crasto said, Mazaniego had no money on him when he was found but he and his employees are doing everything they can to help the family.

"It's a terrible, terrible thing to have happened to such a hard working gentleman," he said.

Mayor Jordan Glatt said this is the first homicide in at least his seven years as mayor.

"This is so uncharacteristic of our community," he said. "It comes as a total shock to me."

However, Glatt said unfortunately something like this could happen anywhere.

"People need to remember that Summit, we're not on an island or an oasis," he said. "We unfortunately live in the real world. And in a community like Summit at times you can get tricked into feeling it's almost like Disney World."

Williams-Clark is being held in Union County. Bail has been set at $100,000.

Glatt said he did not know the suspects.

The attack was recorded by a teenager who was present during the assault, but who has not been charged, said Romankow. It is believed that the video has been circulated among teenagers in Summit.

"I am just horrified and shocked," Glatt said.

Anyone with information regarding the attack is urged to contact Homicide Task Force Detective Patrick Bradley at (908) 527-4152 or Summit Police Department Sgt. Michael Rabasca (908) 277-9389.