4 Teen-Agers Charged in 2 Attacks

Four teen-age members of a black gang have been arrested by Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives and charged with attempted murder in attacks on two youths from a white gang who were brutally beaten and left in the desert to die, authorities said.

Sheriff’s investigators made the arrests Tuesday--about a month after the separate attacks occurred in remote desert areas of Palmdale, said Bobby Denham, a spokesman for the Antelope Valley Sheriff’s Station.

One of the alleged attackers is 14 years old and two are 15, Denham said.

The fourth, William Johnson, 19, of San Bernardino, is being held without bail at the Antelope Valley Sheriff’s Station, authorities said.

The victims, Jason Klein and Kenneth Lucas, are both 16, Denham said.

“Both the victims and the suspects were members of gangs and investigators have determined the attacks were both racially and gang-related,” Denham said.

The Antelope Valley has a growing gang problem, with Latino, African American, white and ethnically mixed gangs active in both Palmdale and Lancaster, gang investigators said.

About 4 p.m. on Nov. 2, Jason was walking through the desert near 25th Street East and Palmdale Boulevard. He was punched and kicked by a group of young men and left unconscious, Denham said.

The following day, passersby found Jason and he was hospitalized and later released for his injuries, authorities said.

On Nov. 24, Kenneth was attacked about 6:30 p.m. as he walked to a night class at Palmdale High School. The gang members allegedly struck him in the face with a board, kicked him and threw large stones at him, Denham said.

Kenneth, who was also discovered by passersby, is still in critical condition at Antelope Valley Medical Center, authorities said.

After an investigation, the three juveniles were arrested Dec. 7.