Two suspects were arrested and third is being questioned in the gang rape of a California teen outside a high school homecoming dance, police said Tuesday.
The 15-year-old Richmond High School student hospitalized in stable condition after the attack, which happened while as many as 15 people, all males, looked on but didn’t help or call police, investigators said.The sex assault took place on school grounds Saturday while the dance was under way inside the school, authorities said.
“She was raped, beaten, robbed and dehumanized by several suspects who were obviously OK enough with it to behave that way in each other’s presence,” said Richmond police Lt. Mark Gagan.
“What makes it even more disturbing is the presence of others,” Gagan said. “People came by, saw what was happening and failed to report it.” Manuel Ortega, 19, a former student at the school, was arrested soon after he ran from the scene. He faces charges of rape, robbery and kidnapping, and was held on $800,000 bail. “Based on witness statements and suspect statements, and also physical evidence, we know that she was raped by at least four suspects committing multiple sex acts,” Gagan said.
“As people announced over time that this was going on, more people came to see, and some actually participated,” Gagan said. The victim was found unconscious under a bench shortly before midnight Saturday after police received a call from someone who overheard people “reminiscing about the incident,” Gagan said.
It’s Obama’s fault because.. Because.. Because.. Look behind you! Someone’s treating a sick wetback for free! *runs away*
For those not from northern Cal, Richmond is a pretty bad area. Well known for crime, drugs, and all sorts of problems. It is a ghetto hell hole in some places.
My gut tells me that gang retaliation is a factor here. If one or more gang bangers were involved, or suspected of being involved, then these observers were probably too scared to report them. After all, in Richmond, ratting out the local drug dealers could easily get you murdered.
School kids almost never, ever tell on each other.. even the “good” kids.
I think it has something to do with moral development at that age, rather than some larger problem with society.
Admittedly this is an extreme case and other factors may be at play. Still, I think it would be a mistake to assume that the kids who didn’t tell where all moral reprobates.
Richmond is the only city that is worse than Oakland.
The only reason school officials should be blamed is that they held a dance for this monsters. Granted, not ALL the punks at Richmond High School are monsters, just the majority….
So now we know where Faxon attends school.
Dont bring in morals.
Salem Witch Trials?
Trail of Tears?
Slavery?
American has never had the best track record with Morals.
I wonder how all those kid’s parents feel. Maybe they should be jailed, too.
Observing how CA operates, the rapists will all be in the legislature or Congress in about 10 years.
The first rapist they caught was 19 and not even a student at the school.
Looks like they caught 4 more.
If I had come across this, there would be several parents mourning the deaths of their punk-assed kids that died that night from a gunshot in the head.
It was not Knee-grows so please do not add racism to an already terrible event. That is part of the problem everyone is so hateful. Lets teach the youth how to respectful and considered of all regardless of gender,race, etc.
# 18 cornholer said, on October 27th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Ill bet the suspects where knee-grows and wetback
This is truly a horrible horrible story I hope everyone involved is punished as harshly as possible. Justice is demanded.
this is so sad, I feel for the poor girl. What would you do if your teenager came home and said they were watching it happen and did nothing? what about when they told you they joined in the raping?