Classmates gave clothing, bus fare to student so he could elude police after Gardena shooting, sources say
The 17-year-old student who took a loaded gun to Gardena High School in his backpack and two classmates are expected to face charges in court on Friday, law enforcement sources have told The Times.
Police said the teen who brought the gun to school is likely to be charged with assault with a deadly weapon. According to one source, he was on probation for a misdemeanor battery conviction. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, said he reportedly stole the weapon from his stepfather.
The boy brought the gun to school, and it accidentally went off during a health class. A single round from the 9-millimeter Beretta tore through a 15-year-old boy's neck and struck a girl in the skull. She remains in critical condition. The boy was discharged from the hospital.
The source said that in the chaos after the mid-morning shooting Tuesday, the suspect gave his backpack to a girl and another boy provided him with a sweatshirt to change his appearance.
One of the suspects also gave him money for bus fare to flee the area, the source said. Police said the backpack has not been located.
The two classmates were arrested on charges connected with aiding the student after the shooting.
The 17-year-old and the two students who allegedly helped him are expected to appear Friday in Juvenile Court.
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-- Andrew Blankstein
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Any child in high school would help out another in that situation... It is all about loyalty and groups in high school. While one group is telling authorities who it was the other group pretends to have no idea what was going on. That backpack will be found but later on in the future. Why? because it was either thrown into the river or is kept in a student's home.. That is what high school has been about lately. Kids will help one another because when it happens to that other student other students will help him or her out
Posted by: Alex Rojas | January 20, 2011 at 11:43 AM
Yes, the students who aided the shooter should be charged as well. I know some will say, stupid kids just wanted to help their friend. But that doesn't mesh with me, they are old enough to know the right from wrong and chosing to help the shooter as opposed to aiding the injured students shows that something is wrong with them as well. Even if the shooter, didn't mean to shoot them, that doesn't mesh with me either. He knowingly brought a loaded gun to school and carelessly threw it on the table or floor or whatever it was to go off; if you believe that story. I would think it sounds unreasonable that a gun can just go off in that way, seems you have to pull the trigger lever for it to shoot. I'm sure the CSI people with be able to prove for sure exactly how the gun was discharged. Besides the fact that friends knowingly, after witnessing other students get shot, helped him get away, anyone who hides, helps or aids a criminal is just as responsible. Even if say a friend went into a 7-11 to get a coke with his buddies waiting in the car outside and the friend in the store decides spur of the moment to rob the clerk and ends up shooting the clerk, the friends in the car would be charged in the robbery/shooting. That's why they say be careful of the company you keep, ignorance is no excuse for the law.
Posted by: doreen | January 20, 2011 at 12:03 PM
It would be interesting to see what Rose's basis of comparison is for her comments. Is it because it was reported that the student came from compton? Is that why she assumes the family is on welfare? Well, time to wake up Rose. Not every family from Compton is on Welfare, just as not everyone who lives in Beverly Hills if filthy rich. I would also like to know how she knows what values the parents taught him. Parents can and do teach the correct morals and values every day. It only works if the child wants to live by those values. If they don't want to listen, nothing a parent says will work. And after all this one was 17 years old. Old enough to know that bringing a gun to school is wrong and old enough to know the consequences of his actions, since he was already on probation for fighting. And if you think it is because of his race, you should be ashamed of your self. Bad happens everywhere, in every culture and ethnicity. You need to stop spouting and start listening. You might learn something.
Oh, and for those of you who say such violence only happens in public schools -- DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT!!
Posted by: Astonished | January 20, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Dumb kids.....oh yeah it's LAUSD
Posted by: u know | January 20, 2011 at 01:28 PM
I agree with Joe, taking a stab at Rose. It's pretty ignorant to assume race has anything to do with the shootings. Assumptions without details = FAIL.
Maybe you have a little hatred in ya?
Kids are kids. Lessons need to be learned.
Posted by: ADRi | January 20, 2011 at 01:44 PM
Why are 17 year olds on probation for a misdemeanor battery conviction allowed in a 10th grade class to begin with?
Posted by: jake | January 20, 2011 at 02:04 PM
I must have missed the part where Rose said anything about race. Maybe that's what you wanted to hear?
Posted by: Mcgibby | January 20, 2011 at 03:18 PM
The boy and the girl should be charged with aiding and abetting. I'll be surprised if they aren't.
Posted by: yourstruly1 | January 20, 2011 at 04:40 PM
Hang em all
Posted by: wasp | January 20, 2011 at 04:57 PM
That kind of gun does NOT go off all by itself. He was aiming it in his backpack and fired
Posted by: wasp | January 20, 2011 at 05:00 PM