Victims describe teen rock attack

Friday, May 28, 2004 | 11:03 a.m.

The first full day of the trial of alleged 311 Boyz member Scott Morse included critical testimony from two of the victims and three of his one-time codefendants.

All offered their versions of the July 18, 2003, evening of teen fury that resulted in Stephen Tanner Hansen getting smashed in the face with a rock.

Morse, the only one of the nine originally charged in the 311 Boyz cases to go to trial, faces three counts of attempted murder with the use of a deadly weapon, as well as multiple counts of coercion and battery with the use of a deadly weapon.

Alleged 311 Boyz gang members Brandon Gallion, 16, Jeff Hart, 17, and Christopher Farley, 18, all reached plea agreements to lesser charges in exchange for their testimony, and each offered different accounts as to who threw the rocks at Hansen, Joseph Grill and Craig Lefevre as the eventual victim and the other two drove away from an angry mob of teens outside of a house party.

Gallion was the only of the three to testify they saw Morse actually throw a rock at Lefevre's white pick-up truck.

"Scott (Morse) was the first person to throw a rock," Gallion said. "He threw it and it hit the tailgate of the truck."

Gallion proceeded to say Hart threw the rock that crashed through the passenger window and Farley threw the rock that crashed through the front windshield leaving Hansen's face smashed almost beyond recognition.

Farley testified that although he did see Morse jump a fence enclosing the housing development off of Canyon Mesa Drive, he didn't see anyone else throw a rock -- except himself.

Hart took the stand saying he didn't see Morse actually throw a rock, but did see Morse in a throwing motion.

Hart and Farley each identified the other as standing on the median of the road. The thrower of a rock from the median, according to accounts from Lefevre, most likely threw the rock that caused Hansen's injuries.

Otherwise, Hart, Farley and Gallion all shared roughly the same accounts of the evening, saying a group of party goers circled Lefevre's truck in an attempt to prevent Lefevre, Hansen and Grill from leaving the party.

All three said they decided to jump a fence and try to stop the truck from leaving once they had successfully driven away from the party because Lefevre hit one of their friends, T.J. Carter, with the truck.

"All I wanted to do was stop the kids (Hansen, Lefevre, and Grill), not hurt or kill them," Farley testified. "They had just hit one of my friends and I thought he died."

The only piece of testimony Hart, Farley and Brandon Gallion shared in common regarding Morse's involvement in the attack was that he jumped the fence.

Grill and Lefevre both offered insight as to how and why they found themselves in so much trouble at the party.

Lefevre said the night began with no intentions of going to the party, as he, Hansen and Grill were simply hanging out with some girls at Durango park. As the night went on one of the girls suggested they go pick up one of her friends and the boys agreed to follow them.

The motivation for what was to ensue might have been jealousy. Hansen arrived at the party with Jennifer Hopkins, the ex-girlfriend of alleged 311 Boyz gang leader Steven Gazlay, 19.

"I remember Tanner (Hansen) telling me he thought we shouldn't go in (to the party) but the girls convinced us everything would be fine," Lefevre said. "We were sitting on the ledge (in the backyard) and Tanner was kind of scared. Steve Gazlay was staring us down, like a 'I want to hurt you' stare."

Lefevre, Hansen and Grill continued to feel uncomfortable and decided to leave the party.

"Steve (Gazlay) and eight kids started coming at us really fast, we (Hansen, Grill and Lefevre) got in the truck," Lefevre said. "I tried to pull away, but Gazlay, Chris Farley and Dominick Harriman sat down on the tailgate."

Lefevre believed calling the police was the only remedy to the situation, but his frantic 911 call -- as played in court -- didn't do much other than incite Gazlay and those who surrounded the vehicle.

"I'm at, I don't know a party, these guys are trying to start a fight with me, there are so many guys," Lefevre told the 911 operator. "I'm so scared, I don't know why they are doing this."

In the background of the recording voices could be heard demanding: "Are you calling the cops? You better not be calling the cops."

Grill said from that moment on more and more kids from the party came running out to the truck and began throwing beer bottles and kicking the vehicle. The events turned even more serious when Matthew Costello, 18, punched Lefevre in the face through his open truck window.

Lefevre put the truck in reverse and hit a parked Jeep. Lefevre said he then put the vehicle in drive.

A car chase ensued, according to Grill, which eventually took them down the only road that exited the housing complex. Before reaching the exit road, Lefevre said he was rammed from behind by a green Jeep, which prosecutors allege was driven by Bradley Aguilar.

As the truck made its way out of the complex, Grill said he saw three people standing on the sidewalk and roughly 20 more people standing on the fence.

Grill said bottles and rocks were being thrown as they passed by going between 85 to 100 mph.

"I ducked my face to my knee (as the car passed the people) and my window was blown out by a rock," Grill said. "I looked to my left and Tanner's head was on my shoulder. Blood was spitting everywhere and when I looked at him I couldn't recognize him anymore. Craig (Lefevre) and I screamed 'Tanner, Tanner' Craig started to cry and we decided to take him to the hospital."

Grill and Lefevre testified they were chased by three vehicles at high speeds before finally losing them and making it to Mountain View Hospital.

Gazlay, Costello, Harriman, Farley, Hart, Brandon, Anthony Gallion and Aguilar all originally faced the same charges as Morse. But all, save Anthony Gallion, whose case was dismissed, have entered plea agreements to lesser charges.

Testimony is scheduled to continue this morning before District Judge Michael Cherry.