Teen charged with attempted murder in stabbing during L.A. immigration protests
- Share via
A 14-year-old faces attempted murder charges in the stabbing of another teenager during protests earlier this month in downtown L.A. against President Trump’s planned mass deportation efforts, prosecutors said Thursday.
The teen, who was not identified, denied the charges at a Tuesday hearing and is due back in court next month, according to a statement issued by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Authorities said the stabbing happened after a fight broke out in the 200 block of Spring Street around 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 7, during the sixth straight day of protests throughout downtown L.A. in opposition to Trump’s plan to deport millions of people in the U.S. illegally. Police previously said the victim, identified only as a 17-year-old boy, was in critical condition.
Federal law enforcement agents are planning to carry out a “large scale” immigration enforcement action in the Los Angeles area before the end of February, according to an internal government document reviewed by The Times.
A Los Angeles police spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for an update on the victim’s condition or a question about what started the fight.
“Violence has no place in our public spaces.” Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said in a statement. “We understand that people have the right to express their views, but this right must be exercised with respect for others’ safety and well-being. Our support is with the victim and their family as they navigate this difficult time and begin the recovery process.”
Thousands flocked downtown earlier this month, marching and briefly shutting down a stretch of the 101 Freeway in protest of Trump’s aggressive immigration policies. There are approximately 15 million immigrants without proper documentation in the U.S., with 2 million estimated to reside in California.
The Trump administration has paused a program providing 4,000 children in California with immigration lawyers. Some are just months old.
While Hochman said he would seek to prosecute more juveniles as adults while running for office last year, teens under the age of 16 must remain in juvenile court under California law.
The 14-year-old is being represented by the L.A. County public defender’s office. A spokeswoman could not immediately provide a comment.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
