Lemoore's finest get help from local TV station and apprehend adult who assaulted teen

The incident was recorded on a cell phone and the video was turned over to an officer. After interviewing a number of witnesses, it was thought that a 15-year-old female and the 13-year-old female were going to fight over a boy.

The female went to meet the 15-year-old on Mary Drive in Lemoore. The 15-year-old’s mother was there with her, along with another adult. The mother, 35-year-old Erica Lopez of Lemoore, told the other adult female to slap the 13-year-old. The adult female struck the victim and the victim attempted to defend herself by fighting back. The 13-year-old teen suffered a concussion as a result of the attack.

On May 5, Fresno television station Channel 30 aired a story about the incident, which included a segment featuring the cell phone video. As a result of this news story, the Lemoore Police Department received numerous calls claiming that the suspect assaulting the teenager was Leah McLeod.

Lemoore detectives contacted McLeod in Hanford he next day. McLeod admitted her involvement in the assault. She was arrested and booked at the Kings County Jail for felony child endangerment and conspiracy. Her bail was set at $100,000.

Officers contacted the other adult, Erica Lopez, in Lemoore later. She is the mother of the 15-year-old who was supposed to fight the 13-year-old victim. She admitted her involvement in the incident, including encouraging McLeod to assault the victim. Lopez was arrested and booked at the Kings County Jail for felony child endangerment and conspiracy. Her bail was set at $100,000.