Hollister
– Police said Wednesday that the teenage boy sent to the
hospital Tuesday evening after a fight near San Benito High School
had been stabbed in the head.
Hollister – Police said Wednesday that the teenage boy sent to the hospital Tuesday evening after a fight near San Benito High School had been stabbed in the head.
The assault was the second stabbing involving a teenager in Hollister in 24 hours.
A 15-year-old Hollister boy was stabbed six times Monday night in an attack that police said was gang-related. Police said there is no evidence that the Tuesday stabbing was gang-related.
Authorities arrested a 15-year-old suspect and a 16-year-old suspect, both residents of Hollister, in connection with the Tuesday stabbing, Hollister Police Capt. Richard Vasquez said.
Police Sgt. Dan Winn said the arrests would not have been possible without Deputy Rich Brown, the school resource officer, who apprehended both suspects before the Hollister Police Department arrived.
No further arrests are expected, police said.
Following Tuesday’s stabbing, the wounded teenager stood calmly near ‘Baler Alley at San Benito High School with blood running down his face as police and other emergency officials responded to the incident at 5:46pm.
Medics treated the teenager on the scene and wrapped his head with gauze before he was taken to Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital for further treatment. Officials were unable to release the victim’s condition or whereabouts due to his age, but Police Capt. Bob Brooks said authorities expected him to be treated and released.
Vasquez said four Hollister teenagers were skateboarding in the high school parking lot when the two suspects approached them and took one of their skateboards and ran.
The victims chased and confronted the suspects in the 1200 block of West Street, where the 16-year-old suspect took out a knife and the 15-year-old took out an unknown weapon, police said.
The 16-year-old swung the knife and cut the victim on the left side of his head, police said.
Officers spent more than 30 minutes searching the ground and bushes of neighboring properties and the school campus with their flashlights looking for a weapon.
Officer Rosie Betanio, a spokeswoman for the police department, said no weapon was found at the scene.
While the two suspects were in custody, a woman approached the scene and began yelling at the officers. As a deputy moved one of the suspects into another patrol car the woman told the suspect, “Don’t worry, I’ll get you out of this,” and yelled obscenities and pointed at the officers.
Both suspects are being held at the San Benito County Juvenile Hall.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or mv*********@fr***********.com.
