Student who brought gun to Gardena High School won't be charged with attempted murder

Law-enforcement officials said they did not expect the 17-year-old student whose gun went off in a Gardena High School classroom, injuring two classmates, to be charged with attempted murder.

Rather, the Los Angeles Police Department said he would be charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

The news comes as students are set to return to the Gardena campus, which was the scene of the chaotic incident Tuesday that left the school in lockdown for hours. Grief counselors will be on hand at the school.

Prosecutors have not said when they will formally charge the boy and whether he will be charged as an adult. Law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times that part of the investigation was centering on whether the teen had been the subject of bullying. Some friends said he had brought the gun to school for protection.

The two wounded students, both 15, were taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where a girl who had been shot in the head underwent lengthy surgery. She was in critical condition with a skull fracture and brain trauma. A boy who had been shot in the neck was listed as stable; his wound is not considered life-threatening.

Police said the two might have been struck by a single bullet. The gun apparently went off in the classroom when the teen put down his backpack.

The Los Angeles Unified School District is expected on Wednesday to take up the issue of whether security and weapons screenings need to be updated.

Steven Zipperman, the school district's police chief, told the school board Tuesday that it was possible the 17-year-old suspect was not checked for weapons.

District officials have required searches since 1993, largely leaving principals to decide the details of when and where to conduct them. Incoming Supt. John Deasy said he convened a meeting Tuesday with school and district staff members to consider whether the policy should be updated.

RELATED:

Photos: Gardena High School shooting

Anxious students undergo weapons search at Gardena High

Gardena High School violated district's weapons-check policy, top LAUSD official says

-- Robert J. Lopez and Shan Li

Photo: A student is searched before entering the Gardena High School campus on Wednesday morning. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[G. H. Roller]

When will they ever learn? In the 1990s, a boy student brought a gun in his backpack to Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. And he pulled the gun out to show the classroom. He was expelled and the incident was over. The LAUSD changed their policy on security searches for students entering high schools upon arrival first thing in the Morning. Now, this gun thing raises the question if the punishment should be more severe for irresponsible students bringing weapons to school? Bullies are no excuse. Your'e outta here!

[Clark Zapper]

All this high security and jail like environments in school and still these type of accidents? I don't think that is the way to go. I think if we provide a safe and educational atmosphere where they won't need to defend themselves then they won't need to bring guns to school.

[Bryan]

This is how kids get attention? Carrying guns? The teenaged brain is not to be trusted to make good decisions, which is why they shouldn't have sex, drink alcohol, do drugs, drive, etc, etc. It's also why a kid needs two parents.

[goyi]

You know..it's a sad story all the way around. It's too bad that students are not safe at school and that there is NO EXCUSE for children to be carrying guns or any other weapons on them. I think that he should be charged with something other than assault with a deadly weapon. Those kids, especially the girl, are paying for his bad judgement. It's just a sad situation!

[Tyrone]

Blame the parents or lack of parenting. Time to hold the parents accountable.....bet a background check would show the parents on public assistance/welfare.
Pity it happened in the school. This type of activity should be weeded from the public school system so that those that actually want to learn aren't punished and/or held back because of the losers.

[michelle]

The school and the DA's office must punish the boy who carried the gun. That's absolute BS if he gets away with the "bully" card. There should be no reason why a minor should be carrying guns to school. A gun is not a toy, and anyone who does carry it has two goals: to kill or to protect.

[concern mom]

I think that the shooter should be charged with accessary to commit a crime and attempted murder. there is a 15 yr old girl laying in hospital fighting for her life. This should not be a slap on that hand. We send our kids to school thinking that they would be safe. and this 17 who is almost at the adult age knows right from wrong. he has a history of bringing weapons to school that's the reason why he got kicked out of his last one. So for LAUSD and LA Law enforcement to keep saying this was a accident that is wrong.

[kuruc]

where did he get this gun and ammo? isn't it illegal in ca for minors to have guns? quick, make a new law. better yet, enforce the current laws. the kid should spend some jail time.....with his parents.

[tgfov]

First my get well wishes goes to the young girl that was wounded that she recovers completely. The school is responsible to make a safe studying and learning environment, they failed miserably by not checking backpacks etc. for weapons. As for the idiot that intentionally brought the gun to school for supposedly protection to actually shoot someone that he felt may harm should be tried as an adult, no juvenile detention center for this loser, it is better for all if he spends time in a prison system at least a daughter or son can't get shot while he is incarcerated.

[Elle]

So tired of the "fear of being bullied" excuse.
While there isn't any excuse for terrorizing others, own up to the responsibility and don't be stupid. As if killing accidentally killing other people who have absolutely nothing to do with your personal problems makes it any better. Everyone has a life to live. You are just a BULLY like everyone else for taking away some innocent person's life.

[Astonished]

Those of you who think this student had no intent to harm anyone are fooling your selves. Anyone who decides to bring a LOADED gun to school doesn't do so to show off. They do it with the intent to harm. The way this story is unraveling, I wouldn't be surprised if the gun was intended for some "after school" activity, especially since there has been some very serious racial tensions at this school for some time.

[Blenda M.]

I have a hard time believing the gun went off accidentally.

[Elle]

And you people claiming it was an accident.
It was an accident because it went off in the classroom without him pointing at anyone. But he brought the gun to school, and I don't know about you, but it sounds like he was going to do SOMETHING with that gun if the right opportunity came up. Maybe if someone was rude to him, or snubbed him, or whatever. He had a weapon, and by bringing it - he has the INTENTION to use it.
How anyone could overlook this is beyond me. Just because he didn't do this on purpose, did not mean he wasn't going to do it with anyone else (intentionally). DUMB.

[Mark]

I just think it is a totally different world now. I do not understand the need to take a gun to school at all. I know I grew up at a different time but I do not remember any students that I went to school with needing a weapon at school. It is also a shame that with tight budgets these days that education systems have to budget metal detectors, metal detecting wands, security personnel, etc.. There seems to be to much responsibility placed on the education system and not on the families of school children. I think parents need to be more involved in their childrens lives, especially these days.

[Charles J]

Possibly tried as an adult? Here we go again, on the verge of legal hypocrisy. If, instead of this horrible happening, this kid had had sex with a teacher or other adult, why then he'd be just a mere child.
He's a JUVENILE! If the juvenile system can't handle crimes of this nature, then it's in serious need of an overhaul.

[alex]

It is verry sad that this child didnt feel safe and didn't think he could get help and had to rely on bringing a gun to protect himself, allthese people that are quickly judging and critizing him of being a gang member are the ones that probably bring up these stupid bullies. I think that the parent of the bullies should be pressed with charges, and the bullies should too. Its not fair that a girl is nearly loosing her life, another kid is wounded and the poor kid who was being tormented to begin with is paying for trying to protect himself!! THINK PEOPLE THINK!!! I have seen first hand parents who encourage bullying to be tough, and they dont realize that they are only teaching their children to be bad people. Throw the bullies and their parents in jail too!!!

[LA Tax Payer]

He and his scum parents get a free pass
And tax payers get the bill!

[Cas]

I'am sick and tired of bullies and GiGi you are soo right .

[Jenny]

The students at Gardena HS want everyone to know that they don't feel that their school is as bad as the media is portraying it to be. Gardena HS certainly is not a "rat hole". Many positive changes have taken place, but the media has only sensationalized this tragic incident. As usual, everyone wants to point the finger and place blame. No one here has mentioned what they can do to improve the school; maybe one of you wants to donate some time and coach a sport(really make a difference in these kids lives) ...everyone's a critic!

[Hexxx]

Ok Debbie so we expell the students that carry a gun into a school and then after we expell them WHAT??????

[Hexxx]

WHAT do we do with these kids once we expell them huh Debbie.. Maybe let them roam the streets with a gun in their backpacks and maybe rob you instead or shoot you when you dont give up your purse??? Expelling these kids is not the answer we need to educate these kids and not just turn our back on them it is clear that you don't have any kids by the answer that u give..

[ustimes]

Then arrest the parents and hold them for 30 days. That should inspire parents to a) not purchase guns or b) lock them up if they are so inclined to buy one.

[hairy carrion]

The larger question is about access to guns. If you look at the related articles, a sentient being would be appalled that in 3 days as many school campuses in our area have had shootings.

[michelle]

How disgusting the is in this article is. What about the fact this kid didn't feel safe to go to the staff. No kid does, everyone knows what a joke bullying and abuse in the government run schools is like. I am not only a witness but my kids are victims of this ignorance. Maybe if we treated kids as if they mattered and had more of a handle on abuse in schools like in the REAL WORLD, kids would feel safer. Shame on the government for not doing something years ago and instead treating kids like animals. Unfortunately you cannot count on parents to do their job, hence the schools think this is a better alternative. hasn't worked yet and the psychological effects will be long lasting. They are just going to charge the child with assault with a deadly weapon. so in order to get heard or realize the reality of a situation a kid has to bring a gun to school. so every-time some idiot child (bully) hits a kid or threatens them we will hold that student to the same standard as they are this boy, right? what a joke. assault with a deadly weapon. idiots. in this day and age, we are still so f'd up.

[theCanimalsHusband]

There should be a new law that no guns are to be fired in high school classrooms from now on.