GILROY
– Just one day prior to the last day of school and barely 32
hours before graduating seniors march merrily through Mustang
Stadium, an altercation between three student gang members erupted
at the site of tonight’s Gilroy High School graduation, leaving one
boy bloody and landing two others in jai
l.
GILROY – Just one day prior to the last day of school and barely 32 hours before graduating seniors march merrily through Mustang Stadium, an altercation between three student gang members erupted at the site of tonight’s Gilroy High School graduation, leaving one boy bloody and landing two others in jail.
Two 16-year-old Norteño gang members and one Sureño gang member, also a juvenile, fought during a fifth-period physical education class Thursday. One of the two Norteños allegedly used a piece of wood, described by students at the scene as a two-by-four, to hit the head of the Sureño gang member several times.
The Norteños ran off before teachers or school security could respond. The fight happened behind the home-side bleachers at Mustang Stadium, out of view of the teachers on hand.
Roughly 40 PE students watched as the Sureño juvenile was picked up by helicopter and flown to San Jose Medical Center where he was treated for his head wounds. The victim was not charged for his role in the fight, police said.
The boy’s medical status could not be confirmed with the hospital. Since all three of the boys are juveniles, police and school officials are not releasing names.
A student eyewitness said the injured boy never lost consciousness during the beating.
“He was walking around fine, but he looked dazed and in shock,” the student said.
Both Norteños were arrested and transported to juvenile hall in San Jose later Thursday for assault with a deadly weapon. Gilroy police located one of them at school and found the other hiding in an attic at an undisclosed Gilroy residence, Sgt. Greg Flippo said.
The boys could be tried as adults. If convicted, they could spend up to two years in prison.
Deputy District Attorney Peter Waite said whether the juveniles are tried as adults depends on the severity of the attack and their past record.
“At 16 they could certainly be tried as adults,” Waite said.
Regardless of the district attorney’s actions, the boys will be punished by Gilroy High School.
“This will result in an expulsion (of at least the student who used the weapon),” Principal Bob Bravo said. “We still have some investigating to do before we issue punishments (to the two other students). When it comes to fighting we always keep the door open for expulsion.”
Although students Thursday predicted retaliation on Norteños by Sureños, Bravo said the incident would not trigger the use of more campus security beyond what would normally follow a fight.
“Mostly everyone has friends that could be looking for revenge after something like this happens,” Bravo said. “We’ll increase our vigilance (Friday), but that’s really because it’s the last day of school, and we always have more security then.”
Friday morning, GHS security and other staff stopped students at the gate to check the contents of their bags and purses. Security at the high school said they were conducting the searches because it was the last day of school.
Earlier this week, Superintendent Edwin Diaz and Chief of Police Gregory Giusiana sent letters home to all Gilroy Unified School District families. The letter warned parents that additional police would patrol around the schools, enforcing traffic and safety laws and citing anyone who litters, vandalizes or is involved in a physical altercation.
“In past years, due to student behavior, traffic and pedestrian safety has been jeopardized. There have been several near misses of students being struck by cars as they were chased by their friends into the street,” the letter states.
“Students have vandalized school and private property by throwing food and other projectiles. Also, there have been physical confrontations during these activities that have gotten out of hand.”
Staff writer Zeb Carabello contributed to this report.
