DA: 'Seriousness of crime' justified charging teens as adults in killing of Long Beach [Cambodian-American] honors student

Melody Ross, a 16-year-old honor student was killed

Photo: Tom Love Vinson and Daivion Davis. KTLA

November 7, 2009
Los Angeles Times

An L.A. County prosecutor said his office decided to charge two teens accused of killing a Long Beach honors student as adults because of the "seriousness of the crime."

Deputy Dist. Atty. Dean Bengston told reporters outside a Long Beach court that the district attorney's office charges juveniles as adults only in "rare instances" but that they warranted in this case because of the nature of the shooting and because authorities believe it was gang-related.

"You have to look at the seriousness of the crime," he said.

Tom Love Vinson and Daivion Davis, identified by authorities as 16-year-old gang members, were each charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder, according to the district attorney's office.

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