Six juveniles arrested for jumping a teenager in Westminster

WESTMINSTER, Calif. – On Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at 11:20 AM, a WPD School Resource Officer was notified that a fight had occurred on February 10, 2023, at Gillespie Park- 9801 McFadden Avenue, in the City of Westminster.

A School Resource Officer contacted the 15-year-old victim and learned approximately 10 subjects “jumped” the victim in the park when they thought he was filming them with his cellular phone. The suspects hit and kicked the victim numerous times in the head, face, and torso while yelling racial slurs at him. The victim stated he sustained minor abrasions to his face due to the attack.

A thorough investigation was conducted and six suspects from the assault were identified. On Friday, March 3, 2023, six suspects were arrested for the attack and theft of the victim’s cellular phone. Three suspects will be transported to Orange County Juvenile Hall on the above-listed charges, while the remaining three will be released to their parents. The victim and suspects in the incident are juveniles therefore their names are being withheld at this time. The investigation is ongoing until the remaining suspects are identified.

Victim:

• Identity withheld due to age, Male, 15 years old, Westminster, CA

Arrestee:

• Juvenile, Male, 17 years old, Westminster, Ca
• Juvenile, Male, 15 years old, Westminster, Ca
• Juvenile, Male, 15 years old, Westminster, Ca
• Juvenile, Male, 16 years old, Westminster, Ca
• Juvenile, Male, 16 years old, Westminster, Ca
• Juvenile, Male, 15 years old, Garden Grove, Ca

Chief Lenyi would like to remind everyone that the Westminster Police Department does not tolerate hate crimes and will investigate them vigorously until the suspects are brought to justice.

Anybody who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call School Resource Officer O. Ayala of the Westminster Police Department at (714)548-3772, or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP- OCCS or by logging on to www.occrimestoppers.org. Callers can remain anonymous.

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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