Sunday, November 08, 2009

DA: 'Seriousness of crime' justified charging teens as adults in killing of Long Beach [Cambodian-American] honors student

Melody Ross
Photo: Tom Love Vinson and Daivion Davis. KTLA

November 7, 2009
Los Angeles Times (California, USA)

An L.A. County prosecutor said his office decided to charge two teens accused of killing a Long Beach honors student as adults because of the "seriousness of the crime."

Deputy Dist. Atty. Dean Bengston told reporters outside a Long Beach court that the district attorney's office charges juveniles as adults only in "rare instances" but that they warranted in this case because of the nature of the shooting and because authorities believe it was gang-related.

"You have to look at the seriousness of the crime," he said.

Tom Love Vinson and Daivion Davis, identified by authorities as 16-year-old gang members, were each charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder, according to the district attorney's office.

Vinson and Daivion allegedly opened fire a week ago outside the school, striking and killing Melody Ross, a popular 16-year-old who police said was a bystander.

Two men -- an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old -- were wounded in the shooting, which occurred about 10 p.m. as crowds of students gathered near Ximeno Avenue and 10th Street for a dance. Police believe that the men may have been the intended targets and that the shooting was the result of a gang feud.

Ross was wearing a superhero costume to Wilson's homecoming game against Polytechnic High School. A number of students at the game were decked out in costumes on the day before Halloween.

On Friday night, students and the Wilson High School football team honored Ross. There was beefed-up security on campus.

The suspects are being held on $3-million bail and face life in prison if convicted. They will be arraigned today in Long Beach.

-- Shelby Grad

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

ah kmaw!

Anonymous said...

We escaped Communism,we think we can live safety in USA.Why?

IT IS NECESSARY INTERDIR TOTALLY THE CARRYING OF FIREARMS.

Anonymous said...

why keep saying honours student?

why not just student?

Anonymous said...

FUCKING YOUNG NIGGERS......YOU KNOW YOUR KMAW ASSSS GONNA GET BEAT BY A KHMER GANG IN PRISON MOTHERFCUKERS

Anonymous said...

3:15 Y DONT YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP....WHAT IF IT WAS SOME 1 YOU KNEW...

Anonymous said...

Because she was an honored student you moron (3:15a) AHHH BLURRRR

Anonymous said...

3:15 AM

Have you just been born into this world, my friend?

She is an honour student and that is why they called her an honour student.

Why don't you call your family doctor Mr. so and so and see what he or she thinks of you.

If you are still a student and don't have an honour status yet, work harder then you will get it.

Anonymous said...

where is the report card stating that she was an honour student?

Btw, I'd like to give out my condolensces and sorrow for the incident. Pls, the victiom rest in peace.

Anonymous said...

Put these Nicger in jails for life...

Anonymous said...

The nigger must be lynched.

Anonymous said...

To all lovely Khmers in this blogger,
I don't think the question from 3:15 AM was very seriously for reader here. Maybe he has a bellyful of the word "honor ...." around him without proof or maybe he though the report was making to wonder.So,If we are smart, we must explain him but not put fire into oil. I write that because I see his last comment.
God bless the victim

Khmer from Germany

Anonymous said...

Fucken Negro mother fucker! That's why white people chains your ass for decade....

Anonymous said...

all the kantop here, dont trick to trouble this space with your racist barbaric full language in the name of khmer

individual crime is nothing racial unlike genocide that yuons committed against khmers and other people around

be awared of yuon tricks

Anonymous said...

Fucken Neggro still Neggro lowlife mother fucker...

Anonymous said...

Here in Florida where I live, the Khmer gangs have killed several black and white people. They also rob and extort from other Asian people. They pimp their girls, deal drugs, and steal. I can link you to many newspaper articles if you like, but you won't read them because you already know everything.

Anonymous said...

Hmm...maybe this "honor student" was involved with the Asian Pride gang-bangers. Stray bullets rarely find a target.

Anonymous said...

Right or wrong, the young lady is a victim. The lesson to learn from this tragic is to teach your children that being around gang members or have anything to do with them you are as good as a target to other opposit gangs.

Anonymous said...

It was great that she involved with Asian or Khmer Pride Gang. She just felt proud as Khmer like all of us..

Anonymous said...

pouk ah vietkong, you evil crooks jealous of melody for being honnored, now you evil people accused her of being involved with gang

stop to soil victim memory. you evil crooks hate melody because she is khmer

Anonymous said...

I don't why everyone here is so racist. That's so shameful that you all express these feelings online without remorse.

You keep calling people names and relate everything Vietamese people and African americans in the way you have.

We're all humans having the same aspirations and endeavours.

You know this site has become the breeding ground of hatred towards other races, etc. There is no unity expressed towards people from all backgrounds.

This is very disgraceful how KI media has evolved from an info, up-to-date site on groundbreaking news of Cambodia to the site where hatred, derogoratory language is freely used without morals, and biased news is propagated towards one side of the story.

This is very unprofessional towards the community of journalism and open-minded forum without threats of slangs or racial slurs.

I say, we should have other measures to limit this kind of hatred and misdemeanours.

In conclusion, professional media only serves the interest of the public, not to serve by slandering information towards any individual or faction.

That's how we develop into modern world in ways of positive thinking, rather than being stuck into one perspective where this is right or wrong.

Diversity plays a big role in developing human capital and society so that people can live and choose freely without bias, discrimination, and racial slurs.

These people who use these hatred expressions should look back into themselves and reevaluate their actions and behaviour.

The bottom line is that KI media should not continue to operate on this basis by allowing unprofessional ways of thinking to continue.

Anonymous said...

3:43 AM, I think I love you.