Two male 17-year-olds were stabbed and beaten in a parking-lot
assault less than a block from the high school on homecoming night,
police said.
Two male 17-year-olds were stabbed and beaten in a parking-lot assault less than a block from the high school on homecoming night, police said.
While thousands were cheering on the Gilroy football team during the third quarter Friday, helicopters circled overhead, waiting to pick up the two Gilroy teens and bring them to a nearby hospital for treatment of multiple stab wounds.
The teens – who do not attend Gilroy High School – were involved in an incident that ended in the parking lot of the Connell Apartments at 7010 Princevalle St., on the corner of Fairview Drive. As of Monday, one teen is in good and stable condition while the other teen is in critical but stable condition.
A resident of the apartment complex said he heard, “Get him, kick him, do this, do that,” just before he went out on the balcony to have a smoke. When he got outside, he saw six youths surrounding a male teenager on the ground in the west-most parking space in the lot. Police could not confirm the number of suspects, but only that one victim said there were several assailants.
“They were beating, beating, beating him up,” said the man, who would not give his name for fear of retribution. The six youths punched and kicked the teen while at least three neighbors peeked out of their houses, the man said. Then, the six youths piled into a grey minivan and headed eastbound on Fairview Drive, the man said.
“They were gang members,” said the man, pointing to the style of the attack and the number of people that were involved in the fight. Though neither assailants nor victims were wearing gang colors, they wore baggy clothing, the man said. He said he thought the assailants were from Morgan Hill because they screamed profanity and repeated the word “Morgan.”
Police would not verify specific comments or gang affiliations. However, they are “investigating the incident as being gang-related because of statements that were made during the altercation,” Sgt. Jim Gillio said.
When the youths sped away, an additional teen emerged from underneath a passageway that led from Princevalle Street to the open-air parking lot, the man said. The second teen knelt down to the ground and tried to wake up the other teen – lying spread eagle on the ground with a bloody face and chest – but he did not move, the man said. The second teen – who police said was also stabbed – then walked away.
However, the teen did not get more than 50 feet before the teen on the ground got up and started walking, though unsteadily, the man said. The second teen came back and the two teens began walking eastward on Fairview Drive while one of them screamed for someone to call 911. Police reported that the victims were found near the intersection with Princevalle Street west of the parking lot.
When police came, the two teens were only 200 feet east of the apartment complex, the man said.
The teens were transported to an area hospital by helicopter. Many residents and football fans reported seeing two helicopters, but police could not say if both were used to transport victims.
Persons with information regarding these incidents may contact police at 846-0350 or leave an anonymous tip at 846-0330.
