Student wounded in shooting near high school in Hollywood
October 13, 2009 | 5:27
pm
A 16-year-old student was shot in the hip this afternoon within two blocks of Helen Bernstein High School in Hollywood, where classes had just ended for the day, authorities said.
The girl was taken to a hospital, where she was listed in good condition, said Officer Bruce Borihanh of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police suspect that the girl, who had been walking home, was caught in the crossfire of two rival gangs, according to an LAPD source who asked not to be named because the case was ongoing.
Borihanh said witnesses reported seeing four male juveniles running from the scene of the shooting, which occurred about 1:50 p.m. near Wilton Place and Fountain Avenue.
"Nobody saw a gun. Nobody saw the shooting take place," he said.
Monica Carazo, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Unified School District, said the high school and two other nearby schools were locked down until about 4 p.m. The school district was sending a recorded phone message to parents to let them know what had happened, she said.
Police had cordoned off an area around the school and were searching for suspects this afternoon.
--Andrew Blankstein and Robert J. Lopez
The girl was taken to a hospital, where she was listed in good condition, said Officer Bruce Borihanh of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police suspect that the girl, who had been walking home, was caught in the crossfire of two rival gangs, according to an LAPD source who asked not to be named because the case was ongoing.
Borihanh said witnesses reported seeing four male juveniles running from the scene of the shooting, which occurred about 1:50 p.m. near Wilton Place and Fountain Avenue.
"Nobody saw a gun. Nobody saw the shooting take place," he said.
Monica Carazo, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Unified School District, said the high school and two other nearby schools were locked down until about 4 p.m. The school district was sending a recorded phone message to parents to let them know what had happened, she said.
Police had cordoned off an area around the school and were searching for suspects this afternoon.
--Andrew Blankstein and Robert J. Lopez
Don't spend money on "gang prevention" programs... spend it on LAPD and recind speical order 40 and go after the gangs. Crime isn't down.
Posted by: West Valley Dave | October 13, 2009 at 06:52 PM
The release time is not the right time. I was waiting outside of my lilttle brothers school (Santa Monica Community Charter School) they let them out at 6:36pm. We parents, brothers,sisters, aunts and uncles we want for the SCHOOLS to have more safety around the school we want the districts to put cameras around so we could have safety around theres always things like this happening. As a student,older sister, and as a daughter and behave other we want the district to have more safety in the schools. While we were weating me and other two ladies we started to go around asking parents so we can have names and numbers of the people who want security around the school so we can inform parents what is going on around the schools. We hope that the LAPD would help us and put more security.
Posted by: Larech Sandoval | October 13, 2009 at 07:11 PM
it's too bad the press only comes out when there's bad news. so much good happens on a daily basis...
Posted by: anji williams | October 13, 2009 at 08:59 PM
I worked at Bernstein when it first opened. The problem is that the school itself does not have a community feel to it. Unlike Hollywood High, there is no common quad area to mingle in and connect to other students. When you first come into the school, you are ushered up into the stairwell, which is enclosed and gated off from the rest of the school. Students then are separated by small learning communities on each of the five floors. There are no bells, two lunches and virtually no contact for any extended period.
Therefore, when school lets out, all of that energy is immediately released out onto Wilton and Fountain, where the action begins. It is also a major artery for escape up through either Wilshire or Glendale. There is a gang problem in that portion of Hollywood with White Fence and possibly spill over from Frogtown and Drew St. Avenues.
There needs to be a common quad before and after school to encourage community.
Posted by: Dodger Tony | October 13, 2009 at 09:26 PM
anybody knows wat they bang or crew they were from....and dont ya find it weird that abc cbs all got these news except ktla which is rigth in front of the school.
Posted by: john | October 13, 2009 at 09:30 PM
the bullet did not hit her in the hip i hit her in the stomach and it wasn't a gang fight they were going for her and they got her i was there next to her and i saw everything and what the officer said is all lies.
Posted by: unknown | October 14, 2009 at 05:00 PM
wth??i heard that they were shooting sum1 and that person duckd and they accidently hit the girl.
just glad i didnt come 2 skoo dis day.
Posted by: dnt trip | October 18, 2009 at 12:36 AM