Police Arrest Third Teen In Gang-Rape Of Haitian Immigrant Mother, Son In WPB
UPDATED: 4:54 pm EDT July 12, 2007
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A third teenager has been arrested in the gang rape and assault of a mother and her 12-year-old son in a West Palm Beach housing project.
Jakaris Taylor, 15, was arrested around 6:45 a.m. Thursday and is expected to make his first appearence in court Friday afternoon.
Ted White with the West Palm Beach Police Department said Taylor was linked to the crime scene by fingerprint evidence.
According to police reports, Taylor placed himself at the crime scene but denied being involved in the attack.
Two other teens accused in the case were arrested last week. Authorities said 14-year-old Avion Lawson and 16-year-old Nathan Walker are being charged as adults with armed sexual battery by multiple perpetrators, sexual performance by a child, armed home invasion and aggravated battery.
Police said the teens were among as many as 10 other youths who two weeks ago forced their way into a woman's Dunbar Village home, sexually assaulted her, beat her 12-year-old son and forced her at gunpoint to perform oral sex on the boy.
Investigators said they are still looking for up to seven other youths they believe participated in the attack.
A spokesman said the state attorney's office will be seeking a grand jury indictment for all defendants in the case to ensure they are charged as adults. Prosecutors said the teens could then face up to life in prison if convicted.
Individuals who would like to donate money to the victims can go to any Wachovia Bank and donate to the St. Ann’s Victim’s Assistance Fund. Donations will go directly to the mother and her son.
For more information on how to donate to the victims, click here.
Residents To Voice Safety Concerns
West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel and Police Chief Delsa Bush will attend a community meeting in Dunbar Village on Thursday to discuss safety concerns in the area.
Frankel said the 60-year-old housing project needs to be replaced with a neighborhood that will provide hope instead of crime.
Frankel, however, said that kind of change requires funding that is unavailable.
"Maybe it helps to highlight the need for the resources to be available to eliminate these public housing ghettos that breed these kind of conditions," Frankel said.
She said both the state and federal government have cut funding for these sorts of projects.