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| Location | Richmond, California, U.S. |
| Date | Saturday, October 24, 2009 9:30 p.m.– c. 12:00 a.m. (UTC-8) |
| Attack type | Assault, rape |
| Victim | 15-year-old female student |
The 2009 Richmond High School gang rape occurred on October 24, 2009, in Richmond, a San Francisco suburb of California, U.S., when a 15-year-old female student of Richmond High School was reported as repeatedly raped by a group of young males in a courtyard on the school campus while a homecoming dance was being held in the gymnasium. As of November 3, seven arrests have been made in connection with the case, one of the suspects being released on October 29. The incident received national attention, raising awareness of the city of Richmond.
Details
Police say that the victim was beaten and raped, at times with a foreign object, for 2½ hours while up to 10 bystanders witnessed the attack without reporting to the police. The girl was found unconscious under a bench and was lifted by air to a hospital. She was released from the hospital on Wednesday, October 28. Witnesses were believed to have taken footage of the attack but none of it has been acquired by police yet.
Arrests
As of November 3, six suspects have been arrested in connection with the case: Manuel Ortega, 19; Salvador Rodriguez, 21; Cody Ray Smith, 15; Ari Abdallah Morales, 16; Marcelles James Peter, 17; Jose Carlos Montano, 18; and a 21-year old man, whose name has not been released. Rodriguez was freed on Thursday, October 29 because police said they found insufficient evidence to support charges. Four of the suspects were arraigned on October 29 in the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez. Smith chose to enter a plea of not guilty to the two charges of rape with a foreign object and rape by force, the others chose not to enter a plea at the time. Authorities have indicated that all three juvenile defendants are expected to be charged as adults.
Smith attended Richmond High School at the time of the incident, and Morales and Peter had attended the high school but were transferred out and were placed in continuation schools.
At least 10 people reportedly watched the assault without calling 911 to report it. A 1999 California law makes it illegal not to report a witnessed crime against a child age 14 or younger; the victim in this case is 15.
Marcelles Peter's aunt stated, "He is the one they've arrested who is black, and if they give my nephew a life sentence, I will sue Richmond. There is no way in hell I will see my nephew blamed in this because he is black."
Victim
The victim has been described as a 15-year-old sophomore attending Richmond High School. Kami Baker, a friend and fellow student of the victim who was present at the homecoming dance, described her as a churchgoer and struggled to fit in at their high school, but outgoing. The parents of the girl made their first public statement, advocating peace and asking the public to turn their anger into a more positive manner Several candlelight vigils at the school and a Pittsburg church were held as a prayer for the girl. A donations fund had been set up by Pastor Jim Wheeler of the First Presbyterian Church of Richmond.
References
- ^ Fagan, Kevin (2009-11-01). "Richmond gang rape seen as nearly inevitable". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Vega, Cecilia (2009-10-28). "5 arrested in rape of girl in Richmond". KGO. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Lee, Henry K. (2009-11-03). "Another gang-rape suspect arrested". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Basu, Moni (2009-10-30). "Friend of gang rape victim blasts school officials over safety". CNN. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Frailey, Malaika (2009-10-31). "One more held, one cleared in rape of Richmond teen girl". San Jose Mercury. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Friedman, Emily (2009-10-29). "One more held, one cleared in rape of Richmond teen girl". ABC News. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - "Police: As many as 20 present at gang rape outside school dance". CNN. 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Fagan, Kevin (2009-10-30). "Bulletproof vests for rape suspects in court". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Gafni, Matthias (2009-11-01). "Family of Richmond rape victim speaks out for first time". San Jose Mercury. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
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