Per an earlier post, (Mexican Youth Is Attacked on Staten Island (NY Times, "assailants, mostly young black men")) he was his way home after working a late shift as a busboy at a local restaurant.
Not stated by the NYT would be that, as an illegal, he almost certainly doesn't have a valid Health Department card, including having been screened for TB & hepatitis; nor having a legally obtained Social Security card.
Also, (going by employment regs in CA, OR, & SD) according to the previous story, he was 17, not 18; therefore, he also probably would not have a valid work permit for a minor; and, as a minor, it would most likely be an employer violation to have him work a 'late shift'.
Your comments mirror my own in post #69 on this thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2563286/posts?q=1&;page=69#69