A better way of putting it Chuk.... Ethnicity and Race are two entirely different things. There are plenty of African Americans who think they are gangsters and hoods because rap music tells them they are. But they didn't grow up in the projects, they grew up in a 350k house in the suburbs, watched American Idol, and speak proper English. But they're still black.
Same applies to every race. I grew up around blacks and Mexicans in California who talked like thugs, got tats, tried to look as badass as possible before returning home to their 4000 sq foot house. They have absolutely no real identity, they're just trying to be what they think their fathers or grandfathers were. Who in actuality did everything they could so that their children wouldn't be the stereotypes they think now are cool. We moved out from literally the worst fucking slum in Philly, I got my ass kicked on an hourly basis. So it gave me real perspective when I saw this shit going on around me. I became a privledged kid and I'm very happy that my family moved to give me those opportunities. Others for god only knows what reason, want to take a step backwards. A huge step.
Okay, now I'm fucking ranting. In any event, it's my belief that's why all this shit happened in this case. TM is a product of the "thug life" mentality that is sold to him like a product.