Third Athlete Charged in Beating Death

The third high school football player arrested in connection with the beating death of Christopher O’Leary was charged Friday with murder and assault.

Rodney Woods, 17, the son of Littlerock High School’s track coach, is a running back who was awarded a full scholarship this year to play football at Fresno State. According to authorities, Woods, along with two other Littlerock players, jumped O’Leary on May 19 at a high school party and kicked him in the head several times, resulting in O’Leary’s death Monday.

Prosecutors are petitioning the court to try Woods as an adult, said Victoria Pipkin, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

Woods, who has been in custody since Wednesday, is scheduled to be arraigned at Sylmar Juvenile Hall on Tuesday.

Authorities have said the beating began when Richard Newton, the starting quarterback at Littlerock High, socked O’Leary in the face without provocation outside the party in Littlerock. After O’Leary crumpled to the ground, Newton’s friend Marcus Raines, a 6-foot-2-inch linebacker, kicked O’Leary in the head. Authorities would not disclose Woods’ role in the death, saying only that he participated in the beating.

O’Leary, 18, had been talking with his girlfriend--a high school cheerleader--before the three players picked a fight with him, authorities said. He had tried to walk away from the fight, witnesses said.

Woods, of Littlerock, was a member of The Times’ All-Valley football team and rushed for 1,510 yards and 16 touchdowns his senior year. He was a standout in track, too, and had been scheduled to compete in a qualifying meet for the state triple jump this weekend. His mother, Dolores Woods, has been a coach at Littlerock High for several years.

Newton and Raines are also top athletes. Newton was the school’s starting quarterback as a junior. And Raines was going to be one of the most sought after football prospects in the state his senior year, said scout Rick Kimbrel of PrepStar, a national recruiting service.

Newton and Raines have been charged with murder. Both 17-year-olds face the prospect of trial as adults.