Support Pours in for Gang Raped Lesbian

Since news broke of what police are calling a hate crime in which  a lesbian Richmond resident was brutally gang raped over the weekend,  Richmond police have received dozens of calls from people wanting to help,  police Lt. Mark Gagan said Tuesday.
 
"Most of the calls were just people expressing concern for the  victim and wanting to help financially," he said.
 
Some callers have provided tips in the case but nothing yet that  has produced an arrest, Gagan said.
 
The response has been so strong that police and the local group  Community Violence Solutions, which assists rape victims and others, have set  up an account for the victim.
 
"This particular case has sparked people's compassion," said  Rhonda James, executive director of Community Violence Solutions.
 
People wanting to contribute can send a check made out to  Community Violence Solutions to 2101 Van Ness St., San Pablo, Calif., 94806.  Donors should write "Richmond Jane Doe" on the check.
 
Those donations will go toward helping the victim.
 
"We'll make sure 100 percent goes right to her," James said.
 
Police are separately offering a reward for information leading to  the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The reward total has reached  more than $11,000, Gagan said.
 
The assault began at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday in the 1500 block of  Visalia Avenue in the city's Belding-Wood neighborhood when the 28-year-old  victim was confronted by four men as she got out of her car.
 
The men proceeded to beat, rob and sexually assault her, Gagan  said. A few minutes into the assault, one of the men alerted the group that  someone was approaching and they forced the victim into her car, the victim  later told police.
 
They took her to a desolate area near the Bay Area Rapid Transit  tracks in the 1300 block of Burbeck Avenue and continued to sexually assault  her, Gagan said.
 
During the attack, which lasted for about 45 minutes, the suspects  made several statements about the victim's sexual orientation, Gagan said.
 
The victim had a rainbow sticker on her license plate that  identified her as being supportive of the gay community, Gagan said.
 
After the attack, the suspects fled in the victim's car, leaving  her there naked, Gagan said. She was able to get help from a nearby resident,  who called for police and an ambulance.
 
The victim suffered serious physical and emotional trauma, Gagan  said.
 
All four men are being sought on charges of assault with a deadly  weapon, robbery, carjacking, kidnapping and rape in concert with an  enhancement for committing a hate crime.
 
The first suspect, who appeared to be the leader of the group, was  described as a Hispanic man in his 30s. He was about 5 feet 6 inches tall,  weighed 180 pounds and had black hair, brown eyes and a mustache.
 
The second suspect was a black man in his early 20s. He was about  5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed about 170 pounds and had black hair and brown  eyes. He goes by the nickname "Blu."
 
The third suspect was described as a Hispanic man about 18 to 20  years old. He goes by the nickname "Pato."
 
The fourth suspect was described only as a Hispanic man about 18  to 20 years old.
 
Anyone with information about any of the suspects is asked to call  Detective Yesenia Rogers at 510-672-1718.