Teenage Boy Arrested In Stabbing Of Teenage Girl In East County

LAKESIDE, CA — A teenage boy suspected of stabbing a teenage girl in an apparent hate crime in San Diego's East County was arrested Monday.

The 16-year-old 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. The girl was hospitalized in an undisclosed condition.

• Previous coverage: 16-Year-Old Girl Stabbed In East County

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."

On Monday, authorities found and arrested the 16-year-old suspect, whose name was withheld because he is a minor.

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

Details of the arrest were not released.

"The Lakeside Sheriff's Substation would like to thank the community, as well as the Fugitive Task Force, for their assistance and cooperation in this case," Wray said.