Richmond High School Gang-Rape in California: Others Watched and Did Nothing, Say Cops
RICHMOND, Calif. (CBS/AP) Police believe as many as a dozen people watched a 15-year-old girl get beaten and gang-raped outside Richmond High School in California at a homecoming dance without reporting it.
"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," Lt. Mark Gagan said. "What makes it even more disturbing is the presence of others. People came by, saw what was happening and failed to report it."
Police sources told CBS Affiliate CBS 5 that some of the bystanders laughed as the attack unfolded while others took photos with their cell phones.
The victim remained hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Manuel Ortega, 19, was arrested at the scene on Friday and was being held on $800,000 bail for investigation of rape and robbery. He is not a student at the school.
Richmond police Sgt. David Harris did not know if Ortega had retained an attorney.
Police said the girl left the dance and was walking to meet her father for a ride home when a classmate invited her to join a group drinking in the courtyard. The victim had drank a large amount of alcohol by the time the assault began, police said.
Officers received a tip about a possible assault on campus and found the girl semi-conscious near a picnic table.
Marin Trujillo, a spokesman for the West Contra Costa Unified School District, said there were four police officers and three school administrators monitoring the dance, but the assault happened away from the gym.
A second arrest was made late Monday. A 15-year-old student was booked on one count of sexual assault. But authorities say as many as five more men attacked the girl.