Alleged assailants in Wednesday street fight face felonies; victim says it was gang related
Published 5:19 pm Friday, February 22, 2013
Four victims from a street fight on Wednesday night say three men brutally attacked them, one of whom repeatedly hit a victim with a baseball bat and fractured his skull.
Police arrested Luis Rodriguez, 26, Roberto Rocha, 22 and Jose Moyeda, 19, in a black Lincoln car in the 800 block of 14th Street Northeast shortly after the fight at about 7:30 p.m. The victims — 17, 16, and two 15-year-olds — positively identified the suspects, as well, according to the court complaints filed in Mower County court.
One victim said the fight was gang related and involved a group called the “Northsiders.” The alleged assailants may have retaliated because they say the victims harassed a 14-year-old boy at the Austin Public Library.
While the victim who was struck in the head suffered cranial hemorrhaging and a fractured lower skull, he still gave details to an officer while at the hospital — similar details the other victims mentioned. According to their accounts, the assailants got out of a car at the 1200 block of Oakland Avenue East, and Rodriguez grabbed an aluminum bat from the trunk. In the court complaint, the victims say Rocha and Moyeda tackled the 17-year-old, and Rodriguez hit him several times with the bat. Another victim reported being hit several times, as well. The victims and a witness also say Moyeda had a crowbar.
After the fight, the 17-year-old ran home and was later taken to the Austin hospital and from there airlifted to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. The suspects reportedly fled the scene and got rid of the bat, according to several accounts.
Officers interviewed the alleged assailants, and Moyeda admitted they were at the scene. While he at first denied having a weapon, Moyeda later said they got rid of a bat after they drove away, according to the court complaint. A witness said she saw the car stop near East Side Lake momentarily and then continue driving.
All three suspects were charged Friday with seven felonies: first-degree assault with great bodily harm, four counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of second-degree assault with great bodily harm and second-degree riot with a dangerous weapon.