Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/teens-rape-leaves-california-community-stunned Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Spencer Michels reports from Richmond, Calif., where a teen girl was gang raped while dozens of people looked on without offering help. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. JUDY WOODRUFF: Next: the fallout in one California community from a violent crime that has left many residents stunned. "NewsHour" correspondent Spencer Michels reports. SPENCER MICHELS: Residents and officials in Richmond, California, near San Francisco, are trying to figure out how to respond to the gang rape of a 15-year-old high school girl, watched by as many as 20 bystanders who didn't even report it.The October 24 rape, which recalled other cases where witnesses to crime did nothing, has brought unwelcome attention on the town and has raised a lot of questions about how the community sees itself, and how it wants to move forward. So far, six men, ranging in age from 15 to 21, have been charged in connection with the crime.It wasn't just the horrific gang rape that drew attention; it was all the witnesses who did nothing. Rhonda James is director of the local Community Violence Solutions and the Rape Crisis Center.RHONDA JAMES, executive director, Community Violence Solutions: This attack went on for two-and-a-half-hours — two-and-a-half-hours. There was an opportunity, there were hundreds of opportunities to stop it. The participants and the so-called bystanders were not interested in stopping it. People were actually jeering, filming, participating from the sidelines. SPENCER MICHELS: There are no charges being sought against the bystanders, because California law doesn't make that a crime. The high school sophomore left the Saturday night dance in the school gym early, and ended up in an unlighted courtyard, where she reportedly was drinking alcohol. FROGY GONZALEZ, student: To me it's no surprise, like, out of Richmond. It's not a surprise to me. You know, I have living here for like nine years. It was one girl and then it was a lot of guys, and then it involved either — I don't know from what. They told me it was drinking, so they were probably intoxicated. SPENCER MICHELS: Frogy Gonzalez attends an alternative high school on the Richmond High campus, and says he understands why no one called for help. FROGY GONZALEZ: They don't want to be snitches, you know, and severe consequences for snitching out here. SPENCER MICHELS: How do you change something like this? FROGY GONZALEZ: How do you change… SPENCER MICHELS: Or is there a way? FROGY GONZALEZ: There's no way to change.