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The 16-year-old charged in a mid-September attack near Village High School admitted stabbing one of his alleged victims, but denied stabbing the second.
Victor Garcia made his first appearance in court as an adult Tuesday after his case was moved to Alameda County Superior Court.
Garcia admitted stabbing teenager Cameron Gipson on Sept. 15. He denied stabbing Dawayne Barnes, although he told police he would have “if he had the chance,” court records show.
But Barnes, questioned by police at the scene, identified Garcia as his attacker. So did witnesses who watched the double stabbing, which took place outside the Pleasanton school district’s graphics art and utility yard in the 4700 block of First Street, a little more than a block from Village High School. High school classes were still in session at the time.
Gipson, 16, attends Amador Valley High School and Barnes, 17, attends Village. They were taken by ambulance to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, where they underwent surgery. The knife used in the attack may have pierced one victim’s liver, it was reported. Both students have since been released from the hospital.
Police found Garcia and a male associate in front of Garcia’s apartment at Civic Square Apartments on Bernal Avenue; both told police where the knife used in the stabbing was and a fixed-blade knife has been recovered.
Defense attorney Thomas Knutsen represented Garcia in court and submitted a subpoena asking for Garcia’s school records. Questioned by Judge Hugh Walker, Knutsen refused to say why the records were needed.
“I believe that will be demonstrated once those records are received,” he said, although the subpoena that was filed names both Barnes and Gipson and asks for the records “to determine if the student engaged in any acts of violence” or whether the student is or is not a member, associate or affiliate of any street gang.”
A date to discuss the records was set for Oct. 26, a week after Garcia is sent to enter a plea and have a trial date set.
Garcia, dressed in a blue Alameda County Jail sweatshirt and tan slacks with a shackle chained to his waist, said little during his appearance. A half dozen family members sat in on the hearing.
The 16-year-old is being held on $260,000 bail. He’s charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, each of which can carry a sentence of up to four year in state prison. Garcia is also charged with inflicting great bodily injury, which could carry an additional sentence of three years, of committing a violent felony, which could add another three years, and under a state statute that prohibits plea bargaining in certain violent crimes.
Court records did not indicate a motive behind the attack.
I wonder what kind of a upbringing that poor kid Victor has ? He certainly wasn’t born bad,
Upbringing or a lack thereof is zero excuse for not knowing it is wrong to stick a knife in someone. Can’t do the time? Don’t do the crime…
Gary…too bad they don’t have a “Like” button on these forums. You said it perfectly.
cholo—-who is ‘they’? I bet you are partially right, based on the many witness accounts—-‘he’ may be guilty.
Hey resident,
One of the kids was from Amador and I did not read where Victor was attending. Village may be for the kids that need alternate types of schooling but what was the Amador kid doing there during school hours? Funny how you look right past that.
Jon –
Your implication that this behavior is to be expected from Village kids but not Amador kids is insulting. Not everyone attending Village is a troublemaker. My son went there to make up units he missed due to illness and ended up staying because he liked the feeling of family and felt that the teachers cared more. The faculty does an amazing job and the majority of students there are very supportive of each other.
My heart goes out to ALL of the families impacted by this.
All outcomes can be traced back to the parents.
Mike
Grace,
You read wrong! go back and read what “resident” wrote and then read mine. I was supporting the Village kids.
Grace,
The other post is gone now but was basically saying that it was the Village students fault and not mentioning the Amador kid at all. I am a big Village supporter.
Jon,
You know Amador kids can go 1-6th period and get out at 2 p.m., right? This is what Cameron’s schedule was, so he was out of school already when the incident occurred.
Just remember, upbringing and income level has nothing to do with violence. Read back a few years and you’ll see a lot of violence with highly prosperous parents. Village gets its kids from your backyard.
We need to have compassion for the teenager who made a terrible decision and ruined his life so early in the game.
I agree with Jon. Okay if Amador’s dismissal is at 2pm what I do not get is what was Cameron doing over at Village. If he is such a good kid, like his father was saying in Pleasanton Patch, he should of been at home writting out some raps or whatever. Also, has anyone asked themselves what would make this Victor kid do something like this, there had to be a reason WHY. I believe he had to feel threatoned by these 2 boys. I myself believe it was self defense.
they were gunna kill him, he had to do it man.
The kid from village victor, is innocent cameron is a wanna be Northern gang member he is always talking smack and starting things. If he was at around village it was for a reason i know that he and dwayne must have started the fight first thats prob why they got stabbed. I know this because i once whent thru this cameron started talking smack behind ppls back and when they confronted him he was a lil bitch and denied everything and snitch on them
I know Victor and he has always been friendly and helpful. I read an article that said that Cam admitted in court that he went to Village High looking for a fight. Let us all pray for all of the families. Hopefully, there could be a positive lesson for all.