16-Year-Old Girl Stabbed In East County

LAKESIDE, CA — Deputies are searching for a teenage suspect after an apparent racially driven attack on a 16-year-old girl in San Diego's East County.

• UPDATE: Teenage Boy Arrested In Stabbing Of Teenage Girl In East County

The girl, who is Black, was found stabbed twice in the back shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday at an apartment complex in the 12000 block of Mapleview Street in Lakeside, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. She was taken to a hospital for treatment.

According to the department, a group of teenagers approached the victim and her family about an assault that happened earlier in the day and began yelling racial slurs at them. An altercation ensued and that's when the victim was injured.

"After talking to the victim's family, deputies were able to identify and arrest a juvenile believed to be the girlfriend of the suspect for brandishing a weapon," sheriff's Lt. Shawn Wray said. "She was later released to the custody of her guardian."

Deputies have identified the suspect and are searching for him. Authorities have not released further information due to his age.

"The Lakeside Sheriff's Substation has been in constant communication with the victim's family and is doing everything possible to locate and bring the suspect to justice," Wray said.

"The sheriff's department does not condone hate or acts of intolerance," he added. "We are a county that is welcoming of people from all backgrounds. We treat all reports and incidents of hate crime seriously."

Anyone with information about the case was asked to call the sheriff's department's non- emergency line at 858-565-5200. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 and remain anonymous. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.