Bay Area girl gang raped at school while witnesses watch but do nothing.

[veg4animals2006]

A 15-year-old girl who went to her homecoming dance was repeatedly gang raped and beaten at Richmond High School for at least two hours while more than a dozen witnesses saw the assault but failed to call police, authorities said today.

The attack occurred Saturday around 9:30 p.m. after the girl had left the dance and was waiting for a ride from her father. She saw a male student she knew, who took her to a dark alley behind one of the school buildings, Richmond police said.

Police said alcohol was consumed but were awaiting toxicology tests.

The male student and about six others began raping and beating the girl. As she struggled, more than a dozen witnesses passed by or watched what was going on. The ordeal lasted 2 to 2 1/2 hours, police said.

"The victim was beaten, sexually assaulted and robbed," said Lt. Mark Gagan. "What's equally disturbing is that other people saw what was going on and did nothing."

Police were finally called after a female student overhead people talking about the rape. She called 911 and told dispatchers what she had heard, according to Gagan.

The girl was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

A former student, Manuel Ortega, 19, was arrested a few blocks away Saturday night and booked on charges of rape, robbery and kidnapping, Gagan said. Ortega was being held Monday on $800,000 bail.

Investigators were questioning two students Monday evening at the police station in Richmond, a city of 104,000 16 miles northeast of San Francisco.

-- Robert J. Lopez

Since this article was written one other student has been charge with sexual assault. The police are looking all over the internet in search of video and photos that were taken during the attack.

I heard about this story on a morning news radio station and I was in tears driving down the highway. As they continued talking about the ordeal I literally became sick to my stomach.

Who thinks that something like this is ok? I realize that  the attackers were high school students but I can't help thinking about their parents...they obviously failed to teach their sons any sort of decency. It's sickening and disgusting to think that this poor girl was raped for over TWO HOURS while people passed by and no one did ANYTHING! That could have been your daughter, or mine! The attackers could have been YOUR sons, or mine! We talk about safe-sex constantly, but very rarely is something like this brought up. Does YOUR son know what to do in a situation like this? Does your daughter?

[kkbird]

Oct. 27, 2009 at 9:03 AM

This is very sad, I hope all works out to where they can locate some of the ones who watched it and charge them with something too...... rotten bastards. Something is terribly wrong with teens or anyone one who does crap like this to harm others. I cant believe teens today..... absolutely awful

[Octobersmom]

Oct. 27, 2009 at 9:06 AM

My hubby will not allow our dd to date unless she is proficient in a martial art.  I am serious. he says by high school she will be at least a brown belt or no dances etc. 

[Lb128f]

Oct. 27, 2009 at 10:49 AM

So sad. I read this earlier this AM...unbelievable. ;(

[Arlyah]

Oct. 27, 2009 at 11:55 AM

This makes me absolutely sick! The fact that no one did anything, and then some actually joined in. DISGUSTING. That poor girl.

[parrishsky]

Oct. 27, 2009 at 2:10 PM

I feel for her immensely. I hope the boys and anyone else involved (taking pics etc) are prosecuted. Her life will never be the same.

btw: richmond is about 45 mins from me.... a very bad part of the bay area, my hubby won't even stop to fill up for gas there.

[awelling]

Oct. 27, 2009 at 2:19 PM

I would sue the school, did you hear the interview they gave cnn.  they say it is the parents responsibility to pick up kids after functions, so they assume if a child leaves early they have arranged a ride home! 

[Anouck]

Oct. 27, 2009 at 2:37 PM

That's just horrendous... Yes, Richmond is a bad area, and I'm sure a lot of the people who saw this were afraid to interfere, for fear of being shot (I'm not even kidding here, it's THAT bad). But still.... they could have called the cops or something.

[shellbyrne]

Oct. 28, 2009 at 8:22 AM

I assume those who watched and did nothing were kids, how beastly!  I hope she is able to get on with her life...

[maidn]

Oct. 28, 2009 at 11:03 AM

These type of stories make me sick . I don't understand how others can walk away from someone like that . High school students or not , if it was one of my children who had done the walking they would answer to me! and they know it . I have taught my children to be proactive .. anything else is cowardice. 

[okc-mom-2]

Oct. 28, 2009 at 11:49 AM

how sad. i hope the girl can move on with her life. i know it will take alot of time being a rape vicitim myself. for the boys who did it i hope they rot in hell. my prayers to the families.