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RICHMOND -- Police in the Bay Area have released the 911 tape in the gang rape of a 15 year old student last month at her school's homecoming dance.
At least a dozen people witnessed the attack but did nothing, until one young woman finally made the 911 call.
Meantime, police arrested a seventh suspect in the incident.
Richmond Police Lt. Mark Gagan says a 21-year-old man from Richmond was arrested Tuesday morning on suspicion of rape, rape in concert with force and other charges that could lead to life in prison if convicted.
Last Thursday, Jose Carlos Montano, 18, was arrested outside his San Pablo home.
"Montano played a significant role in what happened to our victim and his arrest was an important one," Gagan said.
Gagan said detectives believe Montano had a "bigger role than others" in the two-and-a-half hour gang rape outside Richmond High School's homecoming dance last Saturday night.
Montano, who is being held on $1.3 million bail, is charged with rape, rape in concert with force and other charges, according to Gagan.
Another suspect, Salvador Rodriquez, 21, was arrested last week but has since been released due to a lack of evidence against him, according to Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Dara Cashman.
The remaining defendants Manuel Ortega, 19, Cody Ray Smith, 15, Ari Abdallah Morales, 16 of and Marcelles James Peter, 17 were arraigned last Thursday in Contra Costa County Superior Court.
Smith pleaded not guilty in the case, while the others didn't enter a plea.
All four were expected to return to court this week.
Flanked by deputies and wearing bulletproof vests, Smith, Morales and Peter were each charged with rape in concert and sexual penetration with a foreign object, along with special circumstances that could make them eligible for life in prison.
They were charged as adults because of the severity of the crime, prosecutor Dana Cashman said.
Morales is also charged with robbery. Ortega also is charged with robbery and assault causing great bodily injury.
Police said the victim left the homecoming dance at Richmond High School and was walking to meet her father for a ride home when a classmate invited her to join a group drinking in the school courtyard. The girl had consumed a large amount of alcohol by the time the assault began, police said.
Officers later found the girl semiconscious and naked from the waist down near a picnic table.
The girl has since been released from a hospital.
At least a dozen people witnessed the attack but did nothing, until one young woman finally made the 911 call.
Meantime, police arrested a seventh suspect in the incident.
Richmond Police Lt. Mark Gagan says a 21-year-old man from Richmond was arrested Tuesday morning on suspicion of rape, rape in concert with force and other charges that could lead to life in prison if convicted.
Last Thursday, Jose Carlos Montano, 18, was arrested outside his San Pablo home.
"Montano played a significant role in what happened to our victim and his arrest was an important one," Gagan said.
Gagan said detectives believe Montano had a "bigger role than others" in the two-and-a-half hour gang rape outside Richmond High School's homecoming dance last Saturday night.
Montano, who is being held on $1.3 million bail, is charged with rape, rape in concert with force and other charges, according to Gagan.
Another suspect, Salvador Rodriquez, 21, was arrested last week but has since been released due to a lack of evidence against him, according to Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Dara Cashman.
The remaining defendants Manuel Ortega, 19, Cody Ray Smith, 15, Ari Abdallah Morales, 16 of and Marcelles James Peter, 17 were arraigned last Thursday in Contra Costa County Superior Court.
Smith pleaded not guilty in the case, while the others didn't enter a plea.
All four were expected to return to court this week.
Flanked by deputies and wearing bulletproof vests, Smith, Morales and Peter were each charged with rape in concert and sexual penetration with a foreign object, along with special circumstances that could make them eligible for life in prison.
They were charged as adults because of the severity of the crime, prosecutor Dana Cashman said.
Morales is also charged with robbery. Ortega also is charged with robbery and assault causing great bodily injury.
Police said the victim left the homecoming dance at Richmond High School and was walking to meet her father for a ride home when a classmate invited her to join a group drinking in the school courtyard. The girl had consumed a large amount of alcohol by the time the assault began, police said.
Officers later found the girl semiconscious and naked from the waist down near a picnic table.
The girl has since been released from a hospital.
