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West Texans Help Oklahoma Victims
Two Odessa Teens Stabbed, Witnesses Say Its Drug Related-UPDATE 9/6/11
Jennifer Samp
jsamp@cbs7.com
CBS 7 News
September 6, 2011
Odessa, TX – UPDATE
Corp. Sherrie Carruth with the Odessa Police Department says 18-year-old Ronnie Ortiz has been discharged from Medical Center Hospital. 17-year-old Tommy Pate remains in the hospital in fair condition.
Carruth says investigators are getting conflicting stories with witnesses making it harder to make an arrest.
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Many people who live at the Briarwood Village Apartments say its a peaceful area, many have children who play outside, but around 11 o'clock Sunday night, residents say they witnessed a drug deal gone bad.
“Its frightening because we are afraid to allow our children to play in the evening time at the apartment complex," said a couple living at Briarwood Village Apartments.
This couple is one of many residents who prefer to stay off camera, but say the scene last night left them fearing for their children who play outside.
Witnesses showed CBS 7 where they say 18-year-old Ronnie Ortiz and 17-year-old Tommy Pate were stabbed multiple times by a group that they say may be gang-related.
“Its a shock to us, a lot of us have children in the complex,” the couple said, “We've lived here many years and we've never had problems like this.”
Some children in the area saw most of the stabbing as it took place.
"My little sister saw some of it," one kid said.
Children in the area pointed out the bloodstains that remain as a reminder of what happened.
"He got stabbed pretty bad," another kid said.
24-year-old Anthony Jones witnessed the entire thing from his friend’s apartment balcony
"It was pretty chaotic," Jones said. "It was a bunch of guys, about ten of them, they were jumping two of them, and they were yelling something about getting their money."
As of publish time, Odessa police only confirm there was a stabbing at the Briarwood Village Apartments, located on Englewood and 42nd St., but witnesses and residents tell CBS 7 this was a drug related fight that they will never forget.
"You can tell the older one was stabbed, his back was covered in blood, he was in pretty bad shape," Jones said. "It sounds like drug business to me, business as usual I guess."
"They where doing something they weren't supposed to be doing," Two kids said.
The Odessa Police Department has not confirmed whether there were drug-relations, or if any arrests have been made at this time.
Medical Center Hospital officials say 17-year-old Tommy Pate is listed in serious condition, and 18-year-old Ronnie Ortiz is listed under fair condition.