UPDATED 1-20-16: Investigators have concluded that the boy’s story is false, and no crime occurred. Read our updated story here.
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LANCASTER –– A 12-year-old boy was knocked unconscious and suffered minor injuries during a home invasion in Lancaster Monday afternoon, authorities said.
It happened around 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, at a duplex at 1020 West Avenue H-14, according to Lt. Derrick Alfred at the sheriff’s Lancaster Station.
The intruders, one wearing a joker mask and the other a pumpkin mask, went into the duplex through an unlocked door, Alfred said.
They initially smashed objects inside the home, and then attacked the boy, who had been home alone, Alfred said.
When the boy regained consciousness, the intruders were gone, Alfred said.
The boy was taken to a hospital to be treated, officials said.
The boy’s father spoke to reporters at the scene Monday afternoon.
“Right now, [my son] is in the hospital, beat up. His ribs — I don’t know if they’re broken or what. He had a black eye,” the boy’s father said.
The father said he went around the corner with his other children to buy donuts, and left the 12-year-old boy at home.
“Next thing you know, my son’s calling that two people came into the house [and] starting beating him up,” the boy’s father said. “They said they were looking for something they left here when they lived here before.”
The boy’s father said the family moved into the residence in August and did not know the previous tenants.
The boy’s father said he asked his son to describe the intruders, and “he said it was two white people.”
A complete description of the suspects was not immediately available. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station at 661-948-8466.
[City News Service contributed to this report.]
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TF says
It’s nice to see how many people got their exercise this week jumping to conclusions.
Concerning says
I’m sure it wouldn’t have made a difference if the door was locked or unlocked, they went there to gain entrance to the house and would have done so regardless, there was something they wanted in that house. The travesty is this little boy is injured and probably traumatized for the rest of his life. And unfortunately the other travesty is there are a butt load of kids way younger than 12 that are left alone every day for hours on end. …
4Justice says
Do you mean “tragedy”?
Mo says
Travesty and tragedy are interchangeable words.
J says
Definition of travesty in English:
noun (plural travesties)
A false, absurd, or distorted representation of something:
the absurdly lenient sentence is a travesty of justice
Definition of tragedy in English:
noun (plural tragedies)
1An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe:
a tragedy that killed 95 people
his life had been plagued by tragedy
Sickandtired says
People,
Buy weapons now that we still can, this is the only way these thugs will think twice going in to a house that dont belong to them.
I live in Lancaster and have had my UPS delivery stolen twice in the last two years and I just hope I never encounter any of this POS in my property because I will shoot the bastards in the head.
reality says
Just remember, they have to be attacking you and in your home.
Sickandtired says
Believe me, I will make sure it is exactly like that.
Do you think I will tell the sheriff they were with their hands up when I shoot them?
Fletch says
I’m pretty sure that would be a violation their rights…
Skeptical says
Does anyone else think this not adding up? Perhaps a school beef,or maybe a girlfriend involved?
Chris says
Thats not too far from my house. I saw the boy with his mother yesterday evening at the hospital when my girlfriend was checking in for a scan and felt so bad for the boy knowing what that pain feels like physically. Then i overhear his mother say to the nurse what happened. Im so sorry to the family that this happened. Our prayers are with you and your son. We hope he’s ok. Don’t worry about what the media says.
Question Lancaster Authority says
You have to wonder how much crime would be abated or prevented if we spent the $10 million dollars that Rex earmarked for the LEAPS Eye in the Sky and spent it on more Sheriffs and crime prevention. But he and the owner of LEAPS don’t care. They are safe behind the gates of Westview Estates.
Turd Ferguson says
We would be safer without LEAPS.We would be safer without LEAPS.$10,800,000.00 can pay for a lot of Sherriffs.$10,800,000.00 can pay for a lot of Sherriffs.$10,800,000.00 can pay for a lot of programs to lower crime.$10,800,000.00 can pay for a lot of programs to lower crime.Right now all it is doing is lining the pockets of Rex’s political friends.Right now all it is doing is lining the pockets of Rex’s political friends.No to LEAPS.No to LEAPS.No to Rex.No to Rex.
TIMSCOTT4MAYOR says
where is the outrage for this white on white crime? Where are the protests? Why is no one calling out the Father for leaving his 12 year old alone at home with the door unlocked? Hopefully they find these THUGS and get these SCUM off the streets of lancaster.
Just Saying says
There is no legal minimum age requirement for babysitting/Home Alone in California. However, babysitting courses start at age 12 and the guidelines for military families is also age 12.
robert says
I live right around the corner from here , I saw the dad put up that banner, man I just moved here in that area and now I’m going to be more aware of what’s around me!
m says
Dad was doing something fun and nice with the kids. What could be more precious than the memory of going to the donut shop with dad? And someone has to traumatize the kid at home waiting for donuts. Dad – please keep taking your kids for the simple pleasure of getting donuts. Your boy is a brave one if he was able to pull off a call to you in the midst of getting beat up – the community should be really proud of him for doing the best he could in a very very scary situation.
Best wishes to you and all your kids.
Av85 says
I’m pretty certain that saying they were previous “tenants” was a ruse. Very likely the detectives suspect that as well. You might as well say “Hi, I’m Joe Smith and I used to live here and I came to cause you bodily harm and trash your house”
Debbie waters says
Lock your doors and maybe get a dog I feel safer with my dogs
Tm says
Well I was 12 once and was old and mature enuogh to stay home and even had babysitting jobs….it should be OK to leave your older children home alone, you shouldn’t have to worry about homae invasions, home or not break ins happen…..and it sucks that neighborhood is trash I live in the hood across the way and lets just say alot of people in this area are not your most friendliest or educated…unfortunately at this time this is all I can afford to live in….people start trouble all the time for no apparent reason….and this is why my kids do not play outside in the front…
Kelsey says
It’s not a sick world… the Antelope Valley is sick. So glad I moved away.
sjgranai says
my DAUGHTER and my son in law that used to live there prior to this family. My daughter was in a doctor’s appointment for her newborn son (I was there with there watching the 2 year old). And.. I was there with the two year old because my son in law was in a major car accident after coming out of Planet fitness (valley central way) at that very moment. Both are hard working, upstanding people in the community.
My daughter was so mad at her husband for having an accident. Thank GOD he was! Everything happens for a reason.
I love my kid and her husband. They would NEVER do anything like this. I called them as soon as I read this article. They are heading into the sheriff’s station to clear their own names.
cali says
Its crazy ive been in my house for over two years, and ive had about eight different people knock on my door and say they were the previous tenants. Just be happy they where at a doctors appointment so they have proof of where they were
sjgranai says
My son in law was first at the gym… called the gym and they have documented his check in time, video of him arriving and leaving.. AND he has the people that smashed into him to prove where he was right after the gym.
Just Saying says
Just because they said they “lived there before”, doesn’t mean they were necessarily the most previous tenant, they could have been 2 or more tenants back. Also, they may have never lived there before and tossed that out as a diversion.
Ruby Williams says
Its a shame to not Hope these creeps are bought to justice. And do the things they earn. Straight to jail with no bail
Judy says
Never leave your child at home with the doors unlocked!!! This could have ended much worse.
Elizabeth says
“Never leave your child at home with the doors unlocked!!!”
Are you seriously victim blaming? I really hope that is not your intention here. We should be able to be in our own homes without fear that someone will barge in and hurt us!!
PStone says
Do you know where you live?
Always lock the door! !!
What we should be able to do
& the reality of today in the valley
are decade’s apart!
April says
I’m sure you’re all checking with the owner to see who the last tenants were. So sorry to hear about your son. Such a sick world that a child can’t feel or even be safe in his own home. Can’t even keep your doors unlocked during the day. Hope you get justice and I’m praying for you!