The City Council presented 18-year-old Margarita Vargas with an official proclamation. Councilwoman Maria Viramontes said Vargas displayed a bold act of humanity.

 

“This is what it means to have a safe community is the courage of each one of us willing to risk ourselves to help another. There’s nothing that can take that place to make a community safe. So I thank you.

 

When Vargas accepted the proclamation, she encouraged other residents not be afraid of going to the police.

“If they’re ever in my situation where they’ve discovered a tragic (act) happening in Richmond, I would like them to step forward and do the right thing.”

 

Vargas called authorities after hearing about the October 24^th incident from her brother-in-law, who apparently heard two men bragging about it.

Police say the 16-year-old victim was sexually assaulted, beaten and robbed for more than two hours outside the Richmond High School dance. Investigators believe as many as 20 people watched the attack without stopping or reporting it.