Hide Article Text (OCR)
A second 16-year-old youth has been arrested and charged with aggravated battery in connection with the beating of Mark Ruffel, 17, a painter from north Austin. A Lane high school student and member of the Chi West gang joins another 16-year old member of the gang from Prosser high in the pending juvenile court case stemming from the fight which oc curred Sunday, May 6, in a restaurant parking lot at 4910 North. Ruffel left St. Anne’s hospital Thursday, May 17, one week after surgery to correct a skull indention produced by the force of blows of a heavy object allegedly wielded by a member of the Chi Westers in the post-midnight fracas outside the restaurant. Ruffel and his two com panions during the incident have no gang involvement, but police believe the fight may have been related to a conflict between the Chi Westers and the Jousters, another westside street gang. The fight may have been the result of a mistaken belief by one of the Chi Westers that Kuffel and his friends were Jousters, police said. Kuffel and Michael Flynn, 17, and David Leahy, 16, all of north Austin, were seated in a van in the restaurant parking lot when they heard noises either of their van being struck or of a nearby railing being kicked, accor ding to police. Leahy stepped from the van and saw approximately 7 youths in the lot carrying tire irons. He fled into the restaurant for his protection. Flynn then left the van and was assaulted by several youths. Realizing that he and his friend were outnumbered, Kuffel stepped from the van carrying a ‘‘sword.’’ He immediately dropped the weapon, however, when he was confronted by a youth armed with a chrome revolver, Kuffel was struck several times about the head and fell into unconsciousness. Flynn was not as seriously injured in the altercation, but did require treatment of head lacerations at St. Anne’s hospital where Ruffle had been taken. Flynn was released shortly after being treated.
Newspaper Details
Chicago Community Publications
Chicago, Illinois, US
Wed, May 30, 1973
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Michael F.
