Ten Students Witness Gang Rape at School Dance, Do Nothing

[Eldritch]

Police: As many as 20 present at gang rape outside school dance

Investigators say as many as 20 people were involved in or stood and watched the gang rape of a 15-year-old girl outside a California high school homecoming dance Saturday night.

Police posted a $20,000 reward Tuesday for anyone who comes to them with information that helps arrest and convict those involved in what authorities describe as a 2½-hour assault on the Richmond High School campus in suburban San Francisco.

Two teenage suspects have been jailed, but more arrests, as many as 20 total, are expected, according to a police detective.

"We will be making arrests continually as we develop probable cause," said Richmond Police Lt. Mark Gagan. "With this number of people implicated in the incident we're going to be making arrests on an ongoing basis."

As many as 10 people were involved in the assault in a dimly lighted back alley at the school, while another 10 people watched without calling 911 to report it, police said.

A 1999 California law makes it illegal not to report a witnessed crime against a child, but the law applies only to children 14 and under.

"We do not have the ability to arrest people who witnessed the crime and did nothing," Gagan said. "The law can be very rigid. We don't have the authority to make an arrest."

Charles Ramsey, a member of the Richmond school board, said the school district bears some responsibility for the attack. School administrators and police apparently weren't watching the area as they should have, Ramsey said.

The school said it would hold a safety meeting for parents and students Wednesday evening to address the assault.

The victim was found unconscious under a bench shortly before midnight Saturday, after police received a call from someone in the area who had overheard people at the assault scene "reminiscing about the incident," Richmond Police Lt. Mark Gagan said.

The girl was flown by helicopter to a hospital where she was admitted in critical condition. She was in stable condition Tuesday, police said.

Investigators canvassed the community with fliers, which included the reward offer, hoping to identify more suspects Tuesday.

"There is one individual in custody who has made some spontaneous statements that have led me to believe that he is culpable for what happened," Richmond police Lt. Johan Simon said.

Nineteen-year-old Manuel Ortega, described as a former student at the school, was arrested soon after he fled the scene and will face charges of rape, robbery and kidnapping, police said.

A 15-year-old was later arrested and charged with one count of felony sexual assault. A third teenager was being interviewed, Gagan said.

"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 attack occurred on school grounds as the annual homecoming dance was under way inside the school Saturday night, authorities said.

Link.

[Matritensis]

Fucking coward pieces of dung,that makes my blood boil!

[Sol Invictus]

If I had've passed by, someone in that gang would be limping home, the others would be scattering.

[Eldritch]

And the answer to the obvious folllow-up question would seem to be: yes, they are.

[lei.talk]

A 15-year-old girl is in the hospital after gang rape by at least 4 and possibly up to 7 males at Richmond High School in Richmond, California after leaving the school's Homecoming Dance.

Mercury News reports that while awaiting the arrival of her father, the victim ran into an acquaintance who asked her to join him with some friends. He offered her alcohol. Police are investigating whether the victim may have been drugged.

The LA Times reports that the victim was awaiting her father to pick her up after the dance. He was searching for her during the time the assault was occurring. The assault lasted for two to two and a half hours according to the Los Angeles Times. The victim's jewelry was also stolen during the attack.

The police were called by a young woman who had overhead talk about the assault at a party according to Mercury New. It is alleged that a crowd of up to 20 males had gathered to watch the assault.

When police arrived at the scene the rape was in progress and the victim was semi-conscious.

Two people have been arrested thus far according to Mercury News and LA Times. One suspect, Manuel Ortega, is age 19 and was charged "on rape, robbery, and kidnapping charges." The other arrested suspect is age 15 and "was booked on one count of felony sexual assault" according to Lt. Mark Gagan.

The police are searching for the other suspects. In today's world, when so many students carry cell phones with video cameras in them, it is very likely that someone has filmed this assault. The police are searching social media sites for any evidence linked to this crime.

Mercury News reports that "Some people took photos, laughed, and some joined in as the girl was repeatedly assaulted."

Lt. Mark Gagan of the Richmond police stated to CNN "This just gets worse and worse the more you dig into it. It was like a horror movie after looking at the evidence. I can't believe not one person felt compelled to help her."

If you have any information about this crime call Detective Den Greco at 510-620-6618 or the anonymous tip line at 510-232-8477.

[lei.talk]

The lack of action on the part of bystanders will make recovery for the victim that much more difficult, said Marcia Blackstock, executive director of Bay Area Women Against Rape.

"To have other people witness and not do anything about it will really compound her issues," Blackstock said.

Witnesses who failed to report the crime could be charged with aiding and abetting if police can show their actions facilitated or goaded the perpetrators, said Dara Cashman, head of the Contra Costa District Attorney"s Office sex crimes unit. Passively watching the crime is not a crime itself unless the victim is under 14 years old.

Neil Smelser, a professor emeritus of sociology at UC Berkeley, said crowds in such situations often can be broken into four categories: those who perpetrate the action; those who actively encourage it but don"t participate; those who observe without supporting or speaking out against the action; and those who object to it and may or may not vocalize that to the rest of the group.

"They may think, "Why do I need to get involved in this if it doesn"t involve me?" Maybe they"re stunned, maybe it"s denial, or fear," Smelser said. "You don"t necessarily want to blame these people in not getting involved and calling police. You often have to avoid simple judgments and look at all the circumstances. It"s the kind of scene that encourages a helpless feeling."

[Wölfin]

This makes me cry at night. And it disgusts me beyond belief.

[Mesrine]

Ten Students Witness Gang Rape at School Dance, Do Nothing

Huh? They didn't even take part in it?

[Stefan]

This is very disgusting. I hope all of them are caught, and put to justice, including the people who just watched and did nothing. Two hours? I'm not going to mention my opinion on the obvious racial and cultural standing of the adult convict.

[Grey]

Passively watching the crime is not a crime itself unless the victim is under 14 years old.

I don't even know what to say. They should all be shot.