Mother of L.A. Unified student killed in 1993 calls for better campus security [Updated]

During this same week 18 years ago, a 16-year-old Fairfax High School student died after he was shot in the chest by a student who used a backpack to bring a .357-magnum handgun into a classroom. It was the first time a student in the Los Angeles Unified School District had been killed in a classroom.

On Tuesday, the mother of the slain student watched in disbelief as television news crews reported that two Gardena High School students were shot after a classmate brought a handgun on campus in a backpack.

"All I could do was sit there and listen to it in disbelief," Mildred Hunt told The Times. "It was just like a video replay."

Her only son, Demetrius Rice, was shot through the heart on Jan. 21, 1993, and another student was wounded when the gun dropped out of the backpack and discharged during an early morning English class.

Hunt said she lobbied L.A. Unified officials for more stringent security measures -- including metal detectors at entryways -- to spare other families the pain and loss that she suffered. But she said Tuesday's shooting shows that the district has failed to make its campuses safe from gun violence.

"At LAUSD, they're doing business as usual," she said. "Nothing has changed."

Since 1993, district officials have required random searches, but largely leave principals to decide the details of when and where to conduct them. An L.A. Unified policy memo recommends that searches take place on a daily basis at different times so they don't become predictable.

On Tuesday, school officials were meeting to consider whether the policy should be updated.

[Corrected at 9 p.m.: Hunt initially told The Times her son was 15. She later said he was 16.]

RELATED:

Photos: Gardena High School shooting

Youth found guilty in 1993 Fairfax High shooting

LAUSD to review policy in wake of Gardena High shooting

-- Robert J. Lopez

Photo: Demetrius Rice. Credit: Mildred Hunt

Comments

[Vic]

I'm a student at Gardena High for 3+ years now, I'm gonna graduate this year. Campus Security is not the only problem the district's "Open Door Policy" is also a problem. The guy who brought the gun into the campus got kicked out/transferred from some school somewhere in Compton to Gardena High I don't know the reason why he got kicked out but if the school didn't accept him last year when he got kicked out this event probably won't happened. I know he got transferred because I got him on one of my class last year when I was a junior. We didn't talked that much in that class but I knew he was acting tough in school.

My point is they should change the "Open Door Policy" schools shouldn't be accepting students like the guy who brought a gun because he doesn't have a school to go. Also the people who get kicked out from other schools that are sent to Gardena High are making our school looks bad i.e. academically and how the school appear to public.

[BHNATIVE]

Lausd needs to be broken down, they are too big, and they have not been able to handle the job of education in every aspect. The schools in areas like Boyle Heights education has not change since the 60s, our student are graduating with education that does not allow students to continue a higher education. They have good teachers, bad administration. LAUSD is a monopoly control by the unions. Unions are good for advocating for the teachers, but who is advocating for the students?

[Tony ( aka Brains)]

LOL its UP to principles to decide WHEN to do a 'check' ? Thats like leaving the henhouse in care of the wolves should 'another' pack show up. When are the 'real' people in charge going to USE that power wisely and NOT let some bureaucrat take control. Some principles are 'clueless' about this and want to THINK that doesn't happen in MY school, WAKE UP !!!!

[TheBigPicture]

There shouldn't have to be security or police officers at schools...How ridiculous...I never had any security at the schools I attended...

The first sign of violent behavior, expel the kids for good...Then they can push a broom or sell dope for a living...Remove the misfits from the schools early on...

Education should be like a Driver's License...a privilege, not a right...

You get one chance at a free education...

Why victimize the student body and teachers by shuffling these clowns from one school to the next...

[TheBigPicture]

Triple the normal sentence for any crime committed on campus...These DumbAsses will get the message...Crime will be reduced dramatically...

[Vic]

Gardena High is not a bad school. I've seen a lot of students who actually care about their education. I've seen a lot of them participate on extracurricular activities, AP classes, Honors classes, holiday shows, etc.

Now people will think that our school is bad because of the knuckleheads and what happened today.

[Julian Gonzalez]

Better security? How about better kids? Why should we need security at schools? Lets teach kids about personal responsibility. Most inner city and urban kids dont know responsibility because they are not taught it at home. Teach them at school.

[jc]

When parents provided effective strategies with their children at home to teach proper behavior, security guards/police were not needed in the schools. Schools are to educate, not police. Something is wrong with the picture of parents expecting schools to control their children when they can't do it themselves.

[Jo]

When my son was 15, he attended LACES. A fellow student brought a gun to school and stuck the gun in my son's neck saying "you don't believe this is loaded"? He then took it out of his neck (throat area) and showed him that it was loaded. He stuck it back in the area and said to my son not to tell anyone and then demanded money. My son only had $4 on him but he gave it to him and that was the end. My son was terrified to tell anyone because he thought this kid was a gang member. A few days later the kid got into a fight with another kid and pulled the gun again. This time he was caught and the next day my son came forward and then we found out. This kid got transferred to Catherdral High School. The police gave me the run around for a year and finally the kid went to court. We were not allowed into the court room but imagine our dismay when the kid got his hand slapped, NOTHING happened! Thank God our son is OK. A week after the incident, the school had a meeting for prospective parents and the principal had the nerve to say she never had crime at her school. This happened about 22 years ago!

[Mari]

I graduated from Gardena High in 2001 and it seems that nothing has changed. Back when I was there everyone walked in and out as they pleased. The students run the school and no one else. Yeah there was security but I can only remember one of them ever doing his job. School police wasn’t much help because there were only 2 of them. The principal back then was a joke and the students that were actually there to get an education were always being bullied around by all the little wanna bees. I remember my senior year some boy knocked out another boy right in front of his mom right in front of the main office, no security to be found. I had read in a previous article that Gardena High was to reorganized, personally this school should stop accepting students that are no longer allowed at their home school. There is a reason that these students are no longer wanted there. As for the students that do belong to Gardena and think that an education is a waste of time, then get a job and find out how hard it is to make a living with no education, no one wants a drop out. There are too many students that are actually there for an education and there is no reason why they should have to be exposed to violence. I just don’t understand how this was said to be an accident. If you came onto campus with a weapon because you so call need "protection" you brought that weapon with the intent to injure someone. If you have problems with someone find help. I think I would rather be labeled a snitch than be behind bars.

[Person of Interest]

Hey "VIC" - Don't they teach English Composition at Gardena High? If you actually ARE a student there, you need to spend more time in class. By the way you ASK a question, not AXE one.

[Jan]

Parents should check their child before they go to school. Why is it that its always someone elses's responsibility. The parents are at fault!!!

[Mike]

There needs to be a fundamental change in high schools all across america. It seems like a lot of high schools are basically just baby sitters and not a place for learning. Maybe there should be an entry exam just to get into high school. If you are not qualified,you don't get entry to high school. You would then have the option to go to a continuation school for half the day, then job training for the rest of the day. This would make high school more of a serious learning institution like a college. School is for learning, not socializing or gang banging. Many kids are just mindlessly floating thru high school with no direction. Make it more competitive.

[Bill Jones]

Parents will have to PAY FOR IT.

There is NO such thing as a FREE LUNCH.

Expelled students need to be sent to GREEN DOT SCHOOLS.

The charters MUST BE USED AS A LAST DITCH EFFORT.

[Vic]

@Mike I agree with you man, back when I was in my country (Philippines) before you can get in to a high school you need to pass an entrance exam first. In my opinion high schools over there are way better than here.