A juvenile has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a stabbing earlier this month that occurred during a downtown Los Angeles protest over President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
The stabbing occurred on Feb. 7, at Grand Park outside City Hall after a group of students walked out of school for the fourth day of protests. The victim, described at the time as a Hispanic male, was left in critical condition and taken to a local hospital.
On Thursday, the L.A. District Attorney’s Office announced that the suspect in the stabbing had been charged with attempted murder
“Violence has no place in our public spaces,” L.A. County D.A. Nathan Hochman said. “We understand that people have the right to express their views, but this right must be exercised with respect for others’ safety and well-being. Our support is with the victim and their family as they navigate this difficult time and begin the recovery process.”
KTLA’s Rich Prickett estimated several hundred people were outside City Hall at about 1:30 p.m. that day, primarily made up of the several groups of students that walked out of different schools across Los Angeles.
Footage taken by Sky5 showed at least one of the brawls that broke out and the aftermath of a stabbing, including the bloodied victim.
“I came to the protest, and there was a guy that came up who wasn’t even a part of the protest, and just shanked a dude,” a witness named Will told KTLA. “I got it all on my camera and I just walked over, I told them to apply pressure, cut up some shirts, wrap them around him so it would stop the bleeding.”
The unidentified juvenile denied the charge during a Feb. 18 arraignment in juvenile court, the DA’s office stated. The next hearing is scheduled for March 7.
