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Joe and Mary Walbeck of West Wheatfield told WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, the family was "hurt" by the cross-burning. Joe Walbeck said Shaquille Howard, 16, who has been part of their family for three years, had been accepted in the neighborhood and town.

The Walbecks discovered the 6-foot cross when they woke up Sunday morning.

Howard is a star on the football team at United High School. Joe Walbeck speculated the cross-burning might be connected to the team's loss in a playoff game Saturday.

"I was shocked of what happened", he said. "I've never had anything happen like this before and it just ate me up that someone would do something like this."

The state police are investigating and said the perpetrators could be charged with ethnic intimidation if they are caught.

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