Boys Club Administrators Look At Security In Wake Of Stabbing

Michael Roberson said he was watching a friend's child play basketball at the Boy's Club on Raleigh Boulevard Tuesday night when he was attacked by three strangers.

"It just broke out at halftime," Roberson said. "One of them swung at me and then the others came. One of them tripped me and once I hit the ground they started kicking me. I just balled up."

"We stopped the game and they were just running. They were hitting him and they stabbed him," witness Greg Williams said. "They started kicking him some more and they ran out."

Roberson was stabbed four times and spent the night in a hospital.

Marcus Webb, 23, and Rodney Muschette, 23, are charged with assault with intent to kill. When Webb appeared in a Wake County courtroom Wednesday, a prosecutor referred to prior drug convictions and possible gang ties. Webb spoke out, denying any involvement in the attack.

"I did not run. I did not try to do anything. I sat on the bleachers the whole time while they was fighting together," he said.

No Boys Club members were involved in the incident in the gym, but club leaders said it has prompted them to review their security procedures.

"This is the first time in 28 years anything like this has ever happened. The Boys and Girls Club is a safe place and safe for kids. There are hundreds of kids here each day involved in program," Boys Club president Ralph Capps said.

All of the people involved in the incident were adults, and not affiliated with the Boys Club in any way.

"We've characterized it right now as being isolated in nature for what they do up there. We've not experienced that I can recall in the recent past any type of problem like that up there," said Sgt. Stacy Deans, of the Raleigh Police Department.

While the club will re-think its policy of letting outsiders into events, leader said they do not want to be too restrictive. They said it is important to the kids that their parents and friends come see their games.

The facility is associated with the Boys and Girls Club of America. A group of women formed the organization in 1860 in Connecticut. Since its inception, it has kept about 4 million boys and girls off the streets. There are now about 3,400 Clubs in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.