Gang Rape Witnesses Kept Silent So They Wouldn't Be Called Snitches

Nov. 11, 2009 — -- One of the witnesses of last month's gang rape of a 15-year-old girl at her homecoming dance said that while he could have stopped the attack that he watched for 20 minutes he didn't feel accountable for what happened.

"I feel like I could have done something, but I don't feel like I have any responsibility for anything that happened," the unidentified 16-year-old witness told ABC's San Francisco affiliate KGO-TV.

Two witnesses told the television station they didn't call police during the more than two-hour-long assault on the girl because they didn't want to be called a snitches.

For the first time since the Oct. 24 gang rape, details are emerging about the vicious attack on the defenseless teen. Witnesses have now said that the victim was repeatedly kicked in the head as a group of boys took turns raping her during the more than two-hour attack, even using a foreign object to penetrate her.

The witness said that he didn't have a cell phone to call for help and was scared to tell anyone what was happening. Even his parents didn't know he saw the rape occur, he said.

"She was pretty quiet. I thought she was like dead for a minute, but then I saw her moving around and I was like, 'Oh,'" the witness told KGO. "I really wanted to help her, but I don't know, I just didn't."

Police have arrested and charged six men, ranging in age from 15 to 21, in the Oct. 24 gang rape during Richmond High School's homecoming dance.

Police said that a total of 10 males were suspected of taking part in the gang rape. Twenty others, according to authorities, stood by and watched, some even snapping photographs on their cell phones, while the teen girl was assaulted.

Salvador Rodriguez, who was initially arrested in connection to the crime but was later released after the district attorney said she did not have sufficient evidence to hold him, said he saw some "crazy things" the night of the attack.