I don't think the OP quite deserved to receive such a furious preach. What happened there was not in any way forgivable - no matter what happened leading up to it.
Irrespective of skin colour, ethnicity, sexual orientation (etc) a gang of youths riding round the streets with absolutely no regard for law, order or people is just plain wrong and if that's the way NYC is heading it's a sad state of affairs.
You're missing the point. I'm not condoning whatever happened. I'm criticising the OP for not providing any context.