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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, California, United States, when a 15-year-old female student of Richmond High School was gang raped by a group of young males in a courtyard on the school campus while a homecoming dance was being held in the gymnasium.
Six arrests have been made as of October 30.
Details
Police say that the victim was beaten and raped, at times with a foreign object, and robbed 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.
Arrests
As of October 30, 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; and Jose Carlos Montano, 18. Rodriguez was freed on Thursday because police said they found no sufficient evidence to have him charged. Four of the suspects were arraigned on Thursday, October 29 by the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez, with only Smith entering a plea of not guilty to the two charges of rape with a foreign object and rape by force. All three juvenile defendants have been tried as adults. Charges against all defendants that may be filed include rape, rape in concert with violence, penetration with a foreign object, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury, and a special enhancement that could call for a sentence of life imprisonment.
Smith was attending 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 were watching the assault taking place, and none of them calling 911 to report it. A 1999 California law makes it illegal not to report a witnessed crime against a child, however, this law applies to children who are 14 and under, with the victim in this case being 15.
Marcelles Peter's mother suspected racism in her son's arrest, stating, "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) - ^ 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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