2 Teens Connected To Stabbing Of 16-Year-Old Black Girl In San Diego
A pair of teenagers have reportedly been connected to the stabbing of a 16-year-old Black girl in San Diego and racism may be involved.
According to NBC San Diego, the incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime and the teen was rearrested on new charges. The San Diego Sheriff’s Department says the victim was stabbed on April 16 at an apartment complex on Mapleview Street near Channel Road in Lakeside.
A 15-year-old girl, believed to be the girlfriend of the 16-year-old male suspect, is accused of carrying out the stabbing and hurling racial slurs at the victim in the process. She was arrested for brandishing a weapon and released. The male suspect left the scene following the stabbing but was arrested two days later.
On Thursday (April 21), the teenage boy appeared in juvenile court and pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted murder and one count of assault with a deadly weapon. According to NBC San Diego and city’s D.A. office, each charge also carries an added hate-crime allegation, an allegation of personal use of a deadly weapon, and an allegation of personal infliction of great bodily injuries.
The second suspect turned herself in after a warrant was issued for her arrest.
Prior to the stabbing, deputies say the male suspect and a group of other teens confronted the victim and her family about an assault that took place earlier in the day. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department says the group yelled racist slurs at the girl and her family during the confrontation.
A fight then reportedly ensued and the boy stabbed the girl in the back and then ran away from the scene with the group.
Investigators are also looking into whether the male suspect’s father was in the group that confronted the female victim and her family.
