Teen attacked at library over WSU shirt
KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) - Police say a 16-year-old was assaulted in a Kennewick library because the crimson of the Washington State University sweatshirt he was wearing was perceived as a rival gang color by the attackers who were wearing blue.
Police don't believe the victim has any gang affiliation.
The Tri-City Herald reports he was beaten Jan. 11 at the Keewaydin branch of Mid-Columbia Libraries. His laptop fell during the assault and was taken by three teens who fled.
The victim required six stitches for a head wound.
Detectives arrested 17-year-old Cyril Vaughan who has pleaded not guilty in Benton County Superior Court to a robbery charge.
Police don't believe the victim has any gang affiliation.
The Tri-City Herald reports he was beaten Jan. 11 at the Keewaydin branch of Mid-Columbia Libraries. His laptop fell during the assault and was taken by three teens who fled.
The victim required six stitches for a head wound.
Detectives arrested 17-year-old Cyril Vaughan who has pleaded not guilty in Benton County Superior Court to a robbery charge.
Stupid, low-life gang bangers. So now kids can't wear red or blue for fear of some pukes assaulting them. Notice how gang bangers have to attack in groups. Gutless punks.
Another way to say "racism". 'I don't like you because of your color'. Wow. So sad people have to be full of hatred to show how much "better" they are than someone else. WHYYY???? can this end???
Good thing I graduated from UW and have UW gear. I don't think there are any gangs with 'purple and gold' being their color. Hope this kid is okay. No need for a senseless beating like this.
 @Koreanman012 I dare you to wear that purple in Tuscaloosa!
They must be busy, beating up everyone wearing Crimson in Kennewick. Full time job, I reckon.
Whose house? Dawgs House!!
Oh, what smart MF's these gang bangers are. (NOT) And the ACLU opposes state data bases or making it illegal to be a gang member. Rock on with your freedom to injure and cause harm...
 @Citizen#3457899654 That is about the dumbest attack on civil liberties Ive ever seen.  Where is the ACLU defending the suspects in this case?
Â
Next thing you know you will be telling us its Obama and 'teh blax n mooslems' fault. Â
Â
I guess some people will using any excuse to endorse HATE and BIGOTRY.
Think they wanted his laptop and could care less about the WSU sweatshirt... who are they again?.... if I have my laptop with me it is in my backpack out of view.. I don't carry it like a book nor should anyone else...
Sounds like some kids have too much time on their hands. Trolling libraries looking for fights is pretty pathetic if you ask me.
You are all missing the real story here. What was a Coog doing in a library?
 @Seattleisaslew Avoiding the Husky...
So I guess the rival gang was studying for mid-terms and that's why the altercation happened in the library.
 @Cinn They probably stash their excess drug supply in the reference books.
put your laptop in there http://www.tracechecker.com/
Â
I thought libraries were quiet.. no one heard three people beating someone up?Â
I serioulsy doubt they beat the guy because he was wearing a WSU shirt. They beat him because they wanted his computer. I don't doubt that the attackers were affiliated with a gang, but this was about stealing the laptop, not rivalry.
 @Surveyor1 what's it like to be clairvoyant???
@MPS Not Clairvoyant, just common sense.
 @Surveyor1  @MPS and who said they had any common sense
Disgusting.... I hope the jerkoffs that did this get some jail time and hopefully some serious counseling.
Time for a dress code when in pubic don"t want one to be offend by the color you make a choice to wear.
Better ban red shirts!
 @NWCoin Who will the captains in Star Trek send down with them in away missions then?
 @Just_Mike  @NWCoin You mean Ensign Bob?  I guess he'll need to wear brown from now on.  Don't think brown is a popular gang color.  :)
 @Just_Mike James T. Kirk - he seldom kept his shirt on.
Husky purple - the color of brotherhood and peace. Â Seriously, though... why do gangbangers always think everything's about them? Â What a bunch of lunatics.
 @belsnickles Probably for the same reason people think that they own the road when they are be hide the wheel. It's just one's thinking behavior.Â
It's nice to see parts of Eastern Washington finally made it to the late 80's/early 90's.
gang affiliation!
If you believe that story, I've got ocean front property in Kansas to sell you
@Harrison What bubble are you dwelling in??
 @Harrison You're right, I think they just wanted the laptop
 @Harrison There's actually a high level of gang activity in Eastern Washington.  It got that way due to denials just like yours.
 @NWFreeman  @Harrison Freeman what are you talking about? That didn't make any sense bro lol- how does denial stimulate more gang activity? If anything it's these idiots that want to join more gangs which stimulates more activity, duh.Â
 @Harrison  Actually, I wouldn't be surprised. I went to schools with very high levels of gang activity, so much so that we had public school uniforms to cut down on color violence. There were definitely times when some of us got threatened for wearing the wrong colors previous to the uniform policy.  Didn't matter what race you were either.Â
@quidproquo
When a party infers that an incident is gang related, I respectfully ask they verify the information supporting the allegation. The same scrutiny should be applied to a multitude of descriptors of social evils.
Â
Sometimes as a society we have become too complacent easily labeling events as drug related, gang related, and suspicious behavior as harmonious answers when unknowns actually exist.
Â
Is this story actually a case of simple assault and robbery or was it really something more sinister. At this stage of the game, there is too little credible information to reach a conclusion with any sort of substance.
Â
Yes there is evil in our world, while at the same time there are people with kindness and compassion. Letâs just report the story and let the details prevail. Like Sergeant Joe Friday would say; Just the Facts Maâam! Â Â Â