Boy, 14, Robbed at Knifepoint on Way to School

VENTURA —  A 14-year-old boy was robbed at knifepoint Monday morning on his way to Cabrillo Middle School, the latest in a series of violent attacks in recent weeks on or near school campuses.

Although authorities said the robbery did not appear to be gang-related, it follows other attacks on Ventura County youths.

“How brazen they were to just get out of their car in the middle of the morning . . . with no masks or nothing and do this to a younger child,” said Joseph Spirito, superintendent of the Ventura Unified School District.

“It’s almost as if they don’t care if they’re identified,” Spirito said. “We’ve got to become more vigilant . . . and show a concerted effort that if you hurt our kids we are going to prosecute you and put you away.”

The Cabrillo Middle School student was walking about 9 a.m. through an alley south of Santa Clara Street near Hemlock Street, authorities said, when a rusty red El Camino with three teenagers drove up behind him.

Two of the occupants jumped out of the car and demanded to know where the boy was going, and one then pulled out a knife and demanded money, the authorities said.

The boy reportedly turned over $20 and the assailants fled. The boy was unharmed and immediately returned home, where he told his mother, who called police and then the school.

Less than half a mile from where the boy was robbed, police swarmed the streets while waiting for Hells Angels members to arrive for their 50th anniversary celebration.

That irony was not lost on Spirito or parents waiting to pick up children Monday afternoon at the downtown middle school.

“And here we are worried about the Hells Angels coming to town, and we have one of my young kids accosted by a bunch of thugs,” Spirito said. “I’m not saying the police aren’t doing their job . . . but we need to think of better ways to patrol.”

Some parents agreed that more police should be patrolling near schools.

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“School officials aren’t really responsible for something that happens away from school, but maybe the police could patrol better where the children walk to school,” said Bill Pontbriant, father of a 13-year-old Cabrillo student.

“But they’re making a big deal out of the Hells Angels,” Pontbriant said. “They’re all down there, and that’s going to be nothing.”

Other parents said they refuse to allow their children to walk to school because of the potential for incidents like Monday’s robbery.

“It’s not a very safe neighborhood,” said Patricia Andrews, who has two girls at Cabrillo ages 13 and 14. “It’s really scary. . . . I feel bad for the kid, but you should always be walking in at least a group of five kids.”

Children walking home from school Monday said they were unaware of the robbery.

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“He should hang out with bigger groups when he’s walking to school,” said Andrew Reinhart, 13. “We always walk two to three together.”

Among Cabrillo’s 640 students, about 60% either walk or are driven by parents. The other 40% take the bus.

Principal Kris Bergstrom said that in response to recent gang attacks at or near high schools, she has stepped up efforts to inform children about safety measures.

Those attacks include a stabbing last week at Rio Mesa High School, a gang attack on a Ventura school bus last month and an attack by suspected gang members on a 16-year-old boy in a continuing-education classroom at Pacific High School.

Bergstrom said she did not intend to specifically inform students of Monday’s robbery because she wanted to protect the privacy of the 14-year-old victim. But she said teachers will continue to advise students to walk in groups and on main streets.

Teachers also will make themselves more visible before and after school, Bergstrom said.

But Spirito said he is not sure that’s enough.

“I will talk with the principal about the best way to get the message across to the other kids,” Spirito said.

“I don’t disagree with what she is saying, but maybe it would be stronger to tell students what happened and that they need to be careful,” he said. “It could be done in a way that wouldn’t traumatize or frighten the children.”

Spirito also questioned whether the middle school principal should have immediately informed the principal from Lincoln Elementary School, two blocks away. He said even he was unaware of the robbery until contacted by a reporter.

“I’m doing everything possible to make sure I can guarantee the safety of children so that parents don’t worry, but there are certain things that are out of my control,” Spirito said.

Lincoln Principal Elke Fedde said she has been encouraging children to walk in groups since the spate of attacks.

“The schools cannot fix this,” Fedde said. “We need the parents to help us.”

Fedde said that she did not want to alarm parents but suggested that they accompany children to school when possible.