Five teenagers are facing serious charges, including felony assault and hate crimes, for violently attacking multiple victims at a Simi Valley movie theater parking lot, officials announced Friday.
The teens brawled with at least three victims on Aug. 2, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, in the Regal Cinemas lot on Tapo Canyon Road. Two of the teens are also charged in a May 30 altercation that took place in the same lot.
Authorities revealed that two of the teens are 16, and the other three are 17 years old. Due to being minors, the DA did not release their names.
One victim spoke with KTLA days after the August incident, recounting what he described as a racially-motivated assault — which was caught on video.
Michael Robinson, 18, said he was enjoying a night out with friends near the movie theater just after midnight on Aug. 2 when a group of intoxicated, hostile teenagers started by picking on his friend, with whom they had prior issues.
Robinson said the group started beating his friends before turning their attention to him and yelling racial slurs.
“They hit one of my friends in the face first,” Robinson said. “Then, they hit another. Then, they rush me and I’m in between two cars. I managed to get out from behind the two cars and I run into the parking lot. As I run into the parking lot, they proceed to slam me into the hood of somebody’s car and jump me.”
Cell video captured by a witness showed the teen assailants repeatedly punching and kicking Robinson as they surrounded him in the parking lot.
Robinson tried running away, but they followed. At one point, he tried to shield himself with a chair as the group moved in and hurled profanities at him.
“They still caught me, and when they caught me, they decided they were going to put my head in the trash can and proceeded to hit me in the back of my head,” Robinson said.
Video of the assault was widely circulated on social media. The attack left Robinson with cuts, bruises and a chipped tooth. After Robinson and his mother reported the attack, a criminal investigation was launched. Robinson said he had no association with any of the assailants.
Four teens were arrested on Aug. 3. A department spokesperson confirmed that one of the teen suspects is the son of a Simi Valley police officer and noted that the officer would not be involved in the investigation.
It was not immediately clear when detectives identified the fifth suspect, but, as of Oct. 3, the DA’s Office said five teens were charged in relation to the attacks.
The DA charged three teenagers with felony assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, with the special allegation of a hate crime for each one. A fourth juvenile also faces felony assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, with the addition of misdemeanor criminal threats and misdemeanor battery. The fifth juvenile received misdemeanor criminal threats and misdemeanor battery charges.
“Hate crimes spread fear, division and violence throughout an entire community,” said District Attorney Nasarenko. “Our office is committed to holding these youth accountable and ensuring that justice is delivered for the victims and our community.”
All five teens are scheduled for arraignment on Oct. 10 in Oxnard.
Morgan Ball, Vivian Chow, Angelique Brenes and Will Conybeare contributed to this report.
The post 5 teens charged in violent Simi Valley movie theater attacks, 4 face felonies appeared first on KTLA.
