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As many as 20 people stood and watched as a 15-year-old girl was gang raped outside a California high school homecoming dance.

The shocking two-hour assault, involving up to ten men, took place on the Richmond High School campus in San Francisco and left the female victim in a critical condition and in need of an air ambulance.

According to witnesses the attack took place in a dimly lit alleyway behind the school, which was left unmanned by school administrators assigned to monitor the safety of pupils who attended the annual dance.

It is also reported that an additional 10 people watched the horrific scenes without calling the police. Although it is illegal not to report a witnessed crime against a child under Californian law, the law only applies to children 14 and under, meaning that those who goaded the gang on will not face charges as the victim is aged 15.

Richmond Police Lt. Mark Gagan said: “We do not have the ability to arrest people who witnessed the crime and did nothing… The law can be very rigid. We don’t have the authority to make an arrest.”

However, Richmond police have made some progress in capturing those responsible for the attack, making three arrests in total. 19-year-old Manuel Ortega, described as a former student at the school, was arrested soon after he fled the scene and will face charges of rape, robbery and kidnapping police said. The two other suspects remain in police custody.

Police have posted a $20,000 reward for anyone who comes to them with information that leads to an arrest.

Charles Ramsey, a member of the Richmond school board, said that the school district bears some responsibility for the attack and said that the school would hold a safety meeting for parents and students in the coming week.

Published: 02 November 2009
Issue: 1396

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