Two Wilson High School students were arrested Friday afternoon on charges of intimidating witnesses called to testify last week in the killing of classmate Melody Ross.
Long Beach Police arrested the teens, a 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl, on school grounds Friday at about 12:30 p.m., said Lisa Massacani, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman.
Each of the girls is charged with threatening more than one witness involved in the case, Massacani said.
Their names were being withheld because they are minors, police said.
Because they are accused of trying to tamper with witnesses in a murder case, both of the girls could face a life sentence in prison, Massacani warned.
"Because the case is being tried as a capital murder case ... anyone found guilty of witness intimidation in connection with the case can face the same maximum penalty as the suspects being tried for the murder itself, which is life in prison," Massacani said.
Witnesses called to testify in the October 30 slaying of Ross were clearly upset, with one girl crying throughout her time on the time on the stand and other teens recanting testimony they gave to police shortly after Ross' murder.
Ross was killed the night of Wilson's Homecoming football game against Poly High School.
She and two other men who survived were hit by gunfire when alleged gunman Tom "Love" Vinson opened fire on a crowd outside of the school's gate at the end of the game.
Vinson -- a former Wilson student -- and his co-defendant, Daivion Davis, who attended Lakewood High School, were 16 at the time of Ross' murder.
They are accused of opening fire on rival gang members and are being tried as adults on multiple charges including murder, attempted murder and a gang enhancement. If they are convicted on all counts they face the possibility of life in prison without parole.
The pair were seen by several people in the crowd of thousands milling about the school grounds and next to the campus after the game, authorities said.
Nonetheless, witnesses were hard to find and all of them said they did not want to testify during Vinson and Davis' preliminary hearing last week, in which the defendants were ordered to stand trial.
"Witnesses coming forward are crucial to the successful prosecution of cases and bringing justice to murder victims and their families," Massacani said Friday.
"The Long Beach Police Department takes the crime of witness intimidation very seriously and has been working closely with school officials to prevent and identify any additional incidents of intimidation in this case, as well as to ensure the safety of all the witnesses that have come forward."
Anyone with any information regarding witness intimidation in the case is urged to call Long Beach Police Department Homicide Detectives Scott Lasch or Malcolm Evans at 562-570-7244.
Long Beach Police arrested the teens, a 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl, on school grounds Friday at about 12:30 p.m., said Lisa Massacani, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman.
Each of the girls is charged with threatening more than one witness involved in the case, Massacani said.
Their names were being withheld because they are minors, police said.
Because they are accused of trying to tamper with witnesses in a murder case, both of the girls could face a life sentence in prison, Massacani warned.
"Because the case is being tried as a capital murder case ... anyone found guilty of witness intimidation in connection with the case can face the same maximum penalty as the suspects being tried for the murder itself, which is life in prison," Massacani said.
Witnesses called to testify in the October 30 slaying of Ross were clearly upset, with one girl crying throughout her time on the time on the stand and other teens recanting testimony they gave to police shortly after Ross' murder.
Ross was killed the night of Wilson's Homecoming football game against Poly High School.
She and two other men who survived were hit by gunfire when alleged gunman Tom "Love" Vinson opened fire on a crowd outside of the school's gate at the end of the game.
Vinson -- a former Wilson student -- and his co-defendant, Daivion Davis, who attended Lakewood High School, were 16 at the time of Ross' murder.
They are accused of opening fire on rival gang members and are being tried as adults on multiple charges including murder, attempted murder and a gang enhancement. If they are convicted on all counts they face the possibility of life in prison without parole.
The pair were seen by several people in the crowd of thousands milling about the school grounds and next to the campus after the game, authorities said.
Nonetheless, witnesses were hard to find and all of them said they did not want to testify during Vinson and Davis' preliminary hearing last week, in which the defendants were ordered to stand trial.
"Witnesses coming forward are crucial to the successful prosecution of cases and bringing justice to murder victims and their families," Massacani said Friday.
"The Long Beach Police Department takes the crime of witness intimidation very seriously and has been working closely with school officials to prevent and identify any additional incidents of intimidation in this case, as well as to ensure the safety of all the witnesses that have come forward."
Anyone with any information regarding witness intimidation in the case is urged to call Long Beach Police Department Homicide Detectives Scott Lasch or Malcolm Evans at 562-570-7244.
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