Further Re Cellphone Video'd After-School Poly High Street Fight: D.A. Charges 18 Yr Old With Assault w/ Deadly Weapon + Gang Allegation + Violation Of Civil Rights + Dissuading Witness By Force/Threast + Battery; He Pleads <nobr>Not Guilty</nobr>; If Convicted As Charged, He Faces Possible Max Sentence Of Life + 17 Yrs

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Further Re Cellphone Video'd After-School Poly High Street Fight: D.A. Charges 18 Yr Old With Assault w/ Deadly Weapon + Gang Allegation + Violation Of Civil Rights + Dissuading Witness By Force/Threast + Battery; He Pleads Not Guilty; If Convicted As Charged, He Faces Possible Max Sentence Of Life + 17 Yrs

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(May 24, 2019, 7:15 a.m., updated) -- The L.A. County District Attorney's office has charged an 18 year old Long Beach man with one count of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and a gang allegation plus two counts of violation of civil rights, one count of dissuading a witness by force or threat and one count of battery in connection with an after-school fight about a block from LB Poly High.

It's the first official confirmation of racial and gang components in the May 15 after-school attack in the area of LB Blvd./15th St., which someone captured on cell phone video and uploaded on a social network. On May 20, parents and community members held a demonstration outside Poly High and alleged other racially motivated attacks had occurred.

In a May 23 release, the D.A.'s office says defendant Bryan Blancas pleaded not guilty to the filed charges; if convicted on all counts as charged, he faces possible a possible maximum sentence of life plus 17 years in state prison. In its release, the DA's office says "Blancas and his friends allegedly confronted a 17-year-old African American teen. When the victim attempted to flee, Blancas is accused of knocking the victim to the ground and punching and kicking him multiple times in the head, face and torso, according to prosecutors."

On May 22, LBPD issued a release annoncing the May 21 arrest of Blancas on suspicion of attempted murder and alleged participation in a felony street gang (PC 186.22.) It also announced the arrest of two juveniles (ages 16 and 17) in connection with the attack, adding that detectives believe there "may be other suspects." LBPD said in its release that its "Gang Detectives, in conjunction with patrol officers, worked through the weekend to identify the suspects involved in this assault" and on May 21 "the three suspects were taken into custody and a search warrant was executed on a residence."

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LBPD Detectives have urged anyone with information regarding additional suspects to contact LBPD's Gang Detail at (562) 570-7370. Anonymous tips may be submitted through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the "P3 Tips" app to your smart phone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.

The L.A. County DA's office issued a correction to its initial release, indicating one count (not two) of assault with a deadly weapon and adding one count of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and a gang allegation.

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