Men charged in mob assault

staff reports
Published: July 24, 2008

CULPEPER — Culpeper police have charged four Stafford County men with mob assault after a fight erupted early Saturday morning outside the Depot.
Antwan Jaquez Morehead, 20, and John Quincy Richardson, 19, each face two charges of felony assault by mob and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Tierre Jammal Smith, 20, and Hershel Augustus Thurman, 18, were charged with two counts each of felony assault by mob.
According to the police report, the four men were accused of assaulting three Culpeper men. Culpeper police responded to a call shortly after 2 a.m. that a group of men was chasing someone down the railroad tracks, after which a group fled the scene in a gold Dodge Stratus.

“t’s possibly gang-related,” said Sgt. Andrew Terrill.

One victim, a 16-year-old boy, said he and the two other victims recognized the passengers in the Dodge because his friends had trouble with two of the suspects July 4, 2007.

According to the report, one of the victims said a group of 15 to 20 people followed two of the victims when they began to run. The 16-year-old victim fell and told police several people kicked and beat him; the two others were allegedly pistol-whipped. All three victims were treated and released at Culpeper Regional Hospital.

“Upon arrival, the scene was total chaos,” Officer Matt Borders wrote in his report, which also stated some witnesses were hysterical and crying, others uncooperative.

Police located several of the suspects in the Wal-Mart parking lot and charged Smith and Thurman. Stafford County deputies arrested Morehead and Richardson Monday. They remain in the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

Last fall, three of the four suspects appeared at the Star-Exponent with their parents and other family members to defend themselves against accusations brought by a rival set of Culpeper teens, the alleged “HP” group, many of whom have criminal histories.

It is unclear if Saturday’s incident is related to that ongoing feud.