A 15-year-old boy was arrested Monday on suspicion of threatening a witness while his 17-year-old sister and an 18-year-old woman allegedly attacked and robbed a female victim aboard a Metro Blue Line train in the Rancho Dominguez area, authorities said.
The attack, which was captured on the train's on-board video system and on the cellphone of a witness who posted the video to social media sites, occurred between 3:30 and 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, Ramon Montenegro of the Sheriff's Transit Bureau said.
The 18-year-old suspect, identified as Aliyah Von Lewis of Long Beach, allegedly "approached the victim and almost immediately began to punch her in the face and body while pulling her purse and backpack from her," Montenegro said.
"In the videos, a second suspect, a 17-year-old female, can also be seen attacking the victim by repeatedly punching and kicking her," according to Montenegro. "The victim offered no resistance and appears to be trying to get away from the attackers."
The victim told investigators she tried to flee when the train stopped at the Del Amo Station in Rancho Dominguez, but "a second assault occurred and more of her property was taken," Montenegro said.
The victim did not report being assaulted and robbed until the following day, Montenegro said.
The Sheriff's Transit Crime Impact Team began an investigation that included combing social media and were able to identify all three suspects, Montenegro said.
News
Top news of the day
Von Lewis and the 17-year-old girl were arrested on Thursday and booked on suspicion of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon likely to produce great bodily injury.
The younger teen's 15-year-old brother was arrested Monday on suspicion of attempting to prevent or dissuade a witness from calling the police and assault with a deadly weapon likely to produce great bodily injury.
Both juveniles were booked into Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall.
Von Lewis was booked at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, where she was being held in lieu of $100,000 as she awaits a Dec. 29 court appearance in Compton, according to the sheriff's department.
More arrests are possible as the investigation continues, Montenegro said.
