Fifth Wilson Student Charged In After-School Beating

A 15-year-old Wilson High School student has been charged with intimidating a witness to the Feb. 29 after-school beating of a 15-year-old student injured so seriously he was hospitalized several days.

Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman Lisa Massacani said late Wednesday that the female student, a Long Beach resident, was arrested Friday on the felony, as well as for violating probation. Massacani said the girl was arraigned on the charges Monday. She remains in custody at an unknown location.

The department was asked Tuesday about the case of the teen who was attacked about 2 p.m. Feb. 29, and it did not explain Wednesday why the information was not released to the public last week. Massacani said the department is not commenting on whether widespread rumors are true that the attack was gang-related.

After school Feb. 29, a Wilson student was attacked by at least three Wilson High students and possibly more, near the corner of Temple and 10th Street, and student athletes including tennis players saw a group chasing the victim.

The night of the attack, detectives arrested three male Wilson students who have been charged with attempted murder and may be tried as adults, according to L.A. District Attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons. The males are 15 and 16 years old and live in Long Beach. A female Wilson student, 15, who lives in Lynwood, has been charged with concealing or destroying evidence.

The fight rattled the school community of students and parents, and came the same week as a lockdown of the 4,300-student campus after it was reported to Long Beach police that a non-student gunman was on campus. A search of the sprawling campus at Ximeno and 10th Street found neither a gun or unauthorized trespasser at the school.

"LBPD takes a strong stance on witness intimidation," Massacani wrote in an e-mail release, "as witnesses coming forward to testify are imperative to the successful prosecution of cases, as well as justice for the victims. Cases of witness intimidation brought to our attention are thoroughly investigated, and the suspects will be held to answer.

 "As far as the crime being gang-related," she added Wednesday night, "it is still under investigation."

The attack may have involved up to six people against one.

Long Beach Unified School District has asserted that the large campus is safer than many neighborhoods and homes, but that there is a zero tolerance policy that may lead to suspension or expulsion (apart from criminal proceedings).

Witnesses are still being sought and are asked to contact the police Youth Services Detective Amy Garrett at (562) 570-1425.  Anonymous tips may be submitted via text or web by visiting www.tipsoft.com.