2 Students Attacked While on P.E. Class Walk

A Buena High School student was stabbed in the back and another beaten Tuesday afternoon while taking a walk with their physical education class on the outskirts of Ventura College.

In what police believe is a gang-related incident, four or five students from a local continuation school--already out of class for the day--chased down and attacked the Buena youths about 2 p.m. in a typically peaceful neighborhood, authorities said.

A 15-year-old Buena student, stabbed in his lower left back with a knife, was taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where he was reported in good condition. He was held overnight for observation.

A 17-year-old youth, kicked and punched by the students from the Gateway Ventura satellite school, was released with minor injuries, authorities said.

Ventura police say they are still investigating and have made no arrests. They may show photographs of potential suspects to the injured youths in an effort to identify the attackers, police said.

Authorities say the incident began when the Gateway students began directing gang signs at the two Buena youths, who were among more than a dozen students taking part in a walking exercise with their gym teacher.

The two Buena students increased their pace but the others chased them down, and a fight ensued on the corner of Day and Loma Vista roads. Authorities said the Gateway students stabbed the 15-year-old student and kicked the 17-year-old after punching him in the face and knocking him to the ground.

The physical education teacher rushed to their aid, holding the head of the student who had been punched, witnesses said.

One of the students held two T-shirts to his face to stop the bleeding and the other pressed a cloth to his back where he was stabbed, said Loumeshia Williams, a student working at the front desk of the Ventura College administration building when the victims walked into the Day Road office for help.

“The poor kids, all they were doing was walking,” Williams said. “I thank God there was no gun action.”

“I was surprised,” said Yvonne Olson, who was also working at the front desk. “They walked in here and they still stood up. I asked if [one of the victims] wanted to lie down and he said no.”

From there, paramedics transported the two youths to the county hospital.

Buena Principal Jaime Castellanos said he will hold a staff meeting today to discuss safety concerns.

He said the physical education class occasionally takes “power walks” around the neighborhood as part of its aerobic exercise regimen. This walk, as others, had been supervised by an instructor.

“They were definitely not out to cause trouble,” Castellanos said of his two students. “They were just doing what they should have been doing. The kids were just out there doing their P. E. exercises, and it’s just an unhappy thing that happened.

“I hope the full force of the law comes upon them,” Castellanos said of the attackers.