4 men sought in gang rape of lesbian

Police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of four men who allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped for nearly an hour a 28-year-old Richmond woman, who was left naked when they fled in her car.

The crime, which occurred on Dec. 13, is being investigated as a hate crime because of comments the suspects made about the victim's sexual orientation, police said. The woman is openly lesbian and had a rainbow sticker on her license plate, a symbol of gay pride.

"The emotional impact has changed her life," said Lt. Mark Gagan of the Richmond Police Department. "It is an absolute nightmare for her to have gone through. For 45 minutes, four strangers brutalized her."

The ordeal began around 9:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of Visalia Avenue in Richmond's Belding-Wood neighborhood, said Gagan.

The woman was sexually assaulted in that location after she got out of her car, police said. Then she was forced back into her vehicle after the suspects noticed someone approaching. She was driven seven blocks away to the 1300 block of Burbeck Avenue, where she was repeatedly sexually assaulted near an apartment complex, Gagan said.

After the attack, the men drove off in her car, police said. She sought help from a nearby resident who called police.

She was taken to a local hospital and treated for her injuries. Her car was recovered the next day in Richmond.

The attackers are being sought on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, kidnapping, carjacking and sexual assault. The charges carry a hate crime enhancement.

Police described the first suspect, believed to be the group leader, as a Latino man in his 30s, who stands 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs 180 pounds, and has black hair, brown eyes and a mustache.

The second suspect is described as an African American man in his early 20s, about 5 feet 10 inches, 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He is known by the nickname "Blu," police said.

The third suspect is described as Latino, 18 to 20 years old, who is nicknamed "Pato." The fourth suspect is described only as a Latino man 18 to 20 years old.

"Everybody in our community has an interest in making sure these people are apprehended and brought to justice," said Gagan.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ysenia Rogers at (510) 672-1718.