A judge Monday ordered two teenagers to remain in juvenile detention on robbery and assault allegations in Friday night’s stabbing of a 13-year-old boy outside Rieke Elementary School in the Hillsdale neighborhood.
The mother of a 15-year-old boy accused of second-degree assault and first-degree robbery apologized to the parents and sister of the victim during her son’s first appearance in juvenile court.
Peter Reynolds, the father of the 7th grader who was stabbed, said two older boys came up to his son and told him they had two $10 bills and asked if he had a larger bill. His son pulled out a $20 bill and they tried to take it, Reynolds said.
His son wouldn’t cooperate, and they got into a wrestling match, rolling down the hill by the softball field near the parking lot outside Rieke Elementary shortly after 5 p.m., he said.
When his son attempted to get up and run, a 15-year-old boy stabbed him with a knife, his father said.
The wound punctured his son’s kidney, and he was hospitalized for two nights, received stitches and returned home on Easter Sunday, his family told the judge.
Police stopped the 15-year-old and 17-year-old on Southwest Bertha Boulevard and took them into custody, about 30 minutes after receiving the report of a stabbing. Officers seized a knife and a black airsoft pistol that was found near the two teens, Portland police Sgt. Kevin Allen said. Witnesses said the 17-year-old had pointed the black pistol at the victim and his friends.
Police seized this knife and took a 15-year-old boy to juvenile detention on assault and robbery allegations in connection with the stabbing.
In court Monday afternoon, Juvenile Court Counselor Candace Johnson told the judge that the 15-year-old tends to leave home without his mother’s permission, skip school and poses a risk to the community. The prosecutor spoke of the seriousness of the injury and said she was thankful it didn’t end up even worse.
Reynolds, the victim’s father, told the judge that the stabbing and subsequent pointing of the black handgun occurred “in front of lots of kids, younger and older.”
“They were sobbing, crying and legitimately traumatized,” Reynolds said.
“The fear of having him out and around is overwhelming,” he added, pointing to the 15-year-old boy, who was seated beside a lawyer in a green T-shirt and khaki pants issued by the detention center.
Police said they found this airsoft pistol near the two boys who were stopped on Southwest Bertha Boulevard and taken into custody.
The 15-year-old’s mother said she was sorry for what had occurred.
“I apologize to the family and the child that was injured,” the mother said.
Then she pleaded for services to support her son.
“I’m not making any excuses for the actions of my son,” she said, amid tears. “It’s unfortunate that this got to this point….if we can just get my baby some help.”
The 17-year-old, accused of first-degree and second-degree robbery, appeared separately in court a short time later. He’s a ward of the state and most recently was living with a foster care family, according to Nicole Jenkins, of the state Department of Human Services.
Less than two weeks earlier, the 17-year-old had faced another robbery and assault case. He’s also struggled with a significant substance abuse disorder, according to Jenkins and the prosecutor, deputy district attorney Sarika Kathuria.
The victim’s older sister, reading from notes, told the court that her brother plays baseball, and the stabbing injury will keep him from the ball field for six to eight weeks.
“That is his life. That’s everything for him,” she said. “This has affected the community. This has affected our family. People want to move because of this.”
The stabbing occurred as the victim was hanging out with a bunch of friends before his baseball practice was to start about 45 minutes later at the nearby batting cages at Ida B. Wells High School. He plays pitcher and outfielder for two teams, including a travel team, his father said. His father said he appreciated the outpouring of support his son and his family had received since the stabbing occurred.
— Maxine Bernstein
Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212
Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
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