Voluntary Manslaughter Charges Added In Fatal MoVal School Attack

MORENO VALLEY, CA — Two boys accused in a Moreno Valley schoolyard attack that left another boy dead are now facing charges in juvenile court of voluntary manslaughter, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office confirmed Wednesday. The charges were added against the two 13-year-olds, who have not been identified due to their ages, on Monday.

One of the teens arrested in connection to the attack on the victim, who authorities have identified only as Diego, appeared in juvenile court in Riverside on Wednesday and denied the charges against him, according to district attorney spokesman John Hall. He is due back in court on Nov. 1 for a pretrial hearing, while the other teen is due on Oct. 15.

The attack happened on school grounds at Landmark Middle School on Sept. 16, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Thirteen-year-old Diego was bullied and attacked by two other students, sucker-punched and knocked unconscious. He died nine days later.

Diego's accused attackers initially were charged Sept. 18 with assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, but charges were upgraded after he died.

The attack was captured via a cell phone camera. The video shows one boy punching Diego in the face, then the other, according to KTLA news. Witnesses and investigators said Diego hit a pillar nearby and began foaming from his mouth. Classmates told the news outlet he had been bullied.

SEE ALSO: Community Mourns Diego, 13, Bullied Boy Who Died After Attack

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