HEMET: Officials seeking “30-40” who witnessed violent assault on minor

HEMET – Hemet police officials are investigating what they are calling an assault with a deadly weapon against a minor that occurred Halloween night. During the violent confrontation a 14-year-old boy was attacked by at least four subjects who hit the boy in the head with a bottle and kicked him in the head, causing him to lose consciousness. The incident happened Monday, Oct. 31.

Hemet police officers responded to the 3400 block of Mustang Way at 9:10 p.m., after receiving a 911 call from a person reporting about the assault. When officers arrived, they learned the victim had already been transported to a nearby hospital by family members.

Officers and detectives conducted an investigation that revealed the juvenile was walking in a neighborhood near West Valley High School with a group of his friends when another, larger group of 30 – 40 juveniles confronted the boy and his friends.

Officers believe at least four subjects from the large group assaulted the victim, who fell to the ground after one of the suspects allegedly smashed a bottle over the boy’s head. The teenager was then kicked in the head, causing him to lose consciousness.

When the boy regained consciousness he flagged down a passerby and asked the person to call his family. The passerby reportedly helped the victim and called his family for him. When the boy’s family arrived they immediately transported him to a hospital for treatment.

One family member who declined to be identified for this interview explained in a text message that the young victim – who was scheduled to go into facial reconstructive surgery at a local hospital this morning – “was traumatized, but is OK.”

She explained the teen was out with friends Halloween night when his group was approached by a group of black males. The subjects, believed to be adults, searched through the boy’s pockets. “When they found nothing worth stealing they broke a glass bottle over his head knocking him out,” she explained. “Then they bashed his face in.”

The boy was taken to Hemet Valley Hospital and later transferred to the trauma center at Riverside University Health System in Moreno Valley.

“We know there are plenty of witnesses who stood by and watched this attack,” Hemet Police Chief Dave Brown said about the violent attack. “We are asking they do the right thing and come forward and assist us with identifying the suspects.”

A prayer and support event for the victim and his family is scheduled tonight at 6:30 p.m., at Mary Henley Park. All those from the community are invited to attend.

Police are actively investigating the incident and have asked for anyone who saw the assault or who knows any of the suspects involved to call the Hemet Police Department at (951) 765.2400. Callers can remain anonymous.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.