7 Teenagers Accused Of Beating Youth Counselor To Death In Los Angeles

Seven Los Angeles teenagers have been accused of beating a youth counselor to death while he was trying to break up a fight between them.

David McKnight-Hillman, a 25-year-old counselor, was beaten to death by seven teenagers at Wayfinder Family Services, a non-profit organization in the Windsor Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies responded to an emergency call reporting a fight at the facility at around 12:51 a.m. EST, Saturday. The deputies found McKnight-Hillman severely injured from blunt trauma. He was rushed to the hospital but did not survive the attack, the sheriff's office said as per Los Angeles Times.

The non-profit-organization provides therapeutic services to youths placed by Los Angeles County's Department of Children and Family Services. McKnight-Hillman was responsible for the day-to-day care of the residents at the youth center. He was trying to break up a fight between a group of residents on Saturday when he was attacked, Deputy Joana Warren, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, told the outlet.

Among the seven accused offenders, five were juveniles. The two 18-year-olds, identified as Nyler Mason and Keith Lewis, were arrested and charged with murder, reported ABC7. The police have not revealed the identities of the accused juveniles.

Four juveniles were arrested and they are expected to face murder charges. The arrested juveniles were placed in a juvenile detention center on Eastlake Avenue. One of the accused juveniles escaped from the scene and the detectives are now on the lookout for him.

According to a youth violence fact sheet published by the Los Angeles Police Department, 80% of violent crimes are committed by youth between the ages of 14 and 24. The homicide rates in Los Angeles County are twice as much as the rest of California's and three times more than those of the rest of the U.S.

In a California study on juvenile crime, it was found that felony arrest rates among juveniles are higher than those of adults. The study also found that the arrest rates are higher among juveniles as the young men tend to be arrested in large groups on suspicion of committing a crime or at the scene of the crime, although charges may not be filed later.