Young Girl Gang Raped at Home Coming Dance While By-Standers Laughed and Cheered

On Saturday, October 24 2009, in Richmond, California; at Richmond High School, a 15 year old girl attended her Home Coming Dance, it was supposed to have been a fun and enjoyable occasion. It turned out to be a night mare for this one fifteen year old student. It was reported that the girl called her dad to pick her up and left the dance; then she met up with a 15 year old boy; they walked to a back alley in an area away from the dance; it is not clear if she walked with him willingly or was led there by force. Other young men showed up. A group of young men between the ages of 15 to 21 over powered the girl. They robbed, beat and gang raped the young girl for approximately two and a half hours; there were approximately 20 by-standers, however no one came to the girl's rescue.

Some of the by-standers were laughing and some cheering it was reported that some took pictures and video taped the horrible gang rape crime in action. As much as 20 young people may have witnessed the horror this girl was experiencing; no one ran to get help. No one pulled out their cell phone to call for help. No one intervened. How can a group of young people stand around and watch while a human being is being victimized and brutally gang raped. This brutal crime went on for two and a half hours! It was also reported that a weapon may have been used and that a foreign object was used on the girl during the rape. It was reported that alcohol was involved. There are no reports that the victim used alcohol. Even if a girl had used alcohol; she does not deserve to be beaten and gang raped. However, there are no reports that this girl was using alcohol.

The young girl was brutalized from 9:30 p m until 12 midnight, while others just watched; some joined in on the crime, but nobody did anything to help the victim until the buzz got around and someone overheard and notified the police.

There were security guards on duty. This area , for sure, was not being policed by anyone. If the schools are going to have after school activities at night for our children, they should be held responsible to keep our children safe. There should be adequate lighting all around the place; especially in dark areas where a crime could take place. There should be enough security guards to police the grounds. Students should not be allowed to leave away from the area where the activity is being held.

Boys , girls or adults who are not attending the events should not be allowed to hang around the school campus when there is an event going on for the school children. Two men that took part in the gang rape of this girl were 19 and 21 years old; they were not high school students. One student said a group of approximately 12 young men were hanging around on the school campus and the security guards did not ask for their ID or questioned them; nobody asked them to leave even though the security guards saw these young men hanging around.

Five arrest have been made in the rape case. The ages of the suspects are 15,16,17,19 and 21. This girl was brutalized; gang raped, raped with a foreign object and beaten so badly she was hospitalized for four days. Such a sad and terrifying thing that happened to this young girl. With loving care, understanding, support and help from her family and friends and with the right threapy, hopefully this young girl will get her life back.

It was reported that the DA plans to charge the 15 year old, who led the girl to the alley as an adult. The three minors had to have known that what they were doing to that girl was wrong. It was reported that when the police found the girl; she was unconscious and practically nude.

I don't know of any laws that say a person have to report a crime; but, it should be a moral thing. Some people say they don't report a crime because they fear for their safety and they can't get protection from the law enforcement. If they feel this way, why stand around and cheer a rape on. It should be a crime to cheer a crime on. If someone take pictures or video tape a rape or crime after calling 911 and fully intend to turn the pictures and videos over to authorities for evidence, I can go along with that. However, it should be a crime to take pictures or video tape a rape for one's own use or to share with others.

I'm writing this article because I feel all schools should be more aware of our children's safety at after school events; especially night events. There should be enough security guards to police the entire school campus, including areas that are away from the event area. People who are not attending the event should be asked to leave; if they refuse to leave; get the police involved. Have the area well lighted up. If the price of the tickets for school events have to be raised in order to have enough money to pay for the security service; parents may not mind as long as our children are safe. If the schools can't afford to hire adequate amount of security guards for events, I wouldn't mind paying a higher amount for the tickets in order to help keep children safe. School's budget may have just enough funds to hire so many security guards for an event.

It's a good idea for a security guard, or a male teacher, or a group of friends to walk students outside to meet their ride. Students shouldn't stand outside alone to wait for a ride. Students should wait inside until their ride arrives, the parent or who ever pick the student up can give the teen a call on the cell phone when they arrive. It's just not safe to stand outside alone to wait for your ride.