Violence in Our Schools

August 1, 1995 through July 31, 1996

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To report a threat of school violence before the instigator has a chance to act on his/her intentions, please contact Speak Up at 1-866-SPEAKUP (that is 1-866-773-2587)

I would like to thank all of the Survivors and others who have contacted me with information about school violence.  I really do appreciate the help, for without their help, several of these occurrences would not be here.

One other thing I would like to ask of those who read over this list of tragedies is this: If you can provide me with any more details of any of these incidents, I would greatly appreciate the information. Or, if you know of another violent act at a school that is not on this list, please forward that information to me as well.  The link to my e-mail is above.

Memorial Middle School, Laredo, Texas

Tuesday, August 29, 1995

An hour after school had let out for the day, 12-year-old Jonah Inverson and his friends were hanging out near one of the school's restroom.  They had a sawed-off shotgun with them and it was loaded.  It was about 4:15 in the afternoon.  Elizabeth Rivera, also 12, came upon the group and entered the restroom.  Jonah had previously asked Elizabeth to go out with him, but she turned him down.  Jonah followed her into the bathroom and pointed the gun at her head.  She laughed at him and tried to push the gun away.  Jonah pulled the trigger and the gun went off, slamming a bullet into Elizabeth's head.  After firing the shot, Jonah dropped the shot gun and fled the school.  Band director Wes Evans, heard the gunshot and found Elizabeth in the bathroom.  He contacted the front office and they called the police and paramedics.  Elizabeth was airlifted to Mercy Regional Medical Center where she died at 10:45 p.m.  Police arrested Jonah at his home and charged him with attempted murder.  The next day the charge was upgraded to murder.  The school renamed the band room in her honor.

Source: San Antonio Express-News - Laredo Girl Dies in School Shooting; National School Safety Center's Report on School Associated Violent Deaths; Visitor to this web site

Cypress Junior High School, Memphis, Tennessee

Tuesday, September 12, 1995

This morning 15-year-old Torenzo Maurice Bell and a friend jumped Columbus Coffer, also 15, in one of the school's hallways.  Around 8:30 a.m., Columbus retaliated with a .38-calbier handgun and shot Torenzo. He died 40 minutes later.

Source: National School Safety Center's Report on School Associated Violent Deaths; (Memphis) Commercial Appeal - A Tragic Day

Olathe North High School, Olathe, Kansas

Thursday, September 14, 1995

Tonight, students gathered on the parking lot to watch a football pickup game.  17-year-old Alfred Williams from rival Shawnee Mission High School drove by the students and opened fire with a .22-caliber Jennings semiautomatic handgun. Wilson Montenegro, 15, and his 19-year-old cousin Jerrell Frazier were killed in this shooting.

Source: National School Safety Center's Report on School Associated Violent Deaths

George Rogers Clark High School, Clark County, Kentucky

Friday, September 15, 1995

Daniel Watson had been in a fight before school today.  He went home and returned later with two guns.  He held another student hostage at gunpoint for an undisclosed amount of time.

Jefferson Middle School, Rochester, New York

Thursday, September 21, 1995

While on the bus to school, two girls were exchanging words over a boy.  As 13-year-old Stephany Givens got off the bus at Jefferson Middle School, her 12-year-old fighting partner stabbed her in the neck with an steak knife.  The young instigator was carrying the knife in her backpack.  Stephany died 40 minutes later.  The 12-year-old girl was charged with juvenile delinquency because under New York state law at that time, no one under 13 can be charged with murder. 

Source: The New York Times - 12-Year-Old Girl Held in Killing of a Rochester Schoolmate, 13

Tavares Middle School, Tavares, Florida

Friday, September 29, 1995

Eighth-grader Keith Eugene Johnson, 14, was kicked out of his house today.  He goes to school and encounters Joey Summerall, who had tried to pick fights with him in the past. Keith pulls out a 9mm semiautomatic pistol and empties the clip into Joey, killing the 13-year-old classmate for "running off at the mouth" on him.

Source: National School Safety Center's Report on School Associated Violent Deaths

Gilroy High School, Gilroy, California

Tuesday, October 3, 1995

During a fight at Gilroy today, 15-year-old gang member Carlos Vaca was pushed into 16-year-old Marcos Valdez, who was defending himself from another opponent. The fight climaxed when a five-inch blade found its way into Carlos.  He later died from his wounds.  Marcos, Pavel Zapata, 17, and Gerardo Avila, 19, were all charged in Carlos's murder.

Source: National School Safety Center's Report on School Associated Violent Deaths; Survivor of this act of school violence

Marshall Elementary School, St. Louis, Missouri

Tuesday, October 10, 1995

Students can be very rough on substitute teachers, but this instance was uncalled for.  Nedra Morris was filling in at a fourth grade classroom today and had to pass out assignments.  While she was doing this, a 9-year-old male student began to punch her in the chest repeatedly.  Nedra, 51, suffered a heart attack and rushed to the hospital where she died 90 minutes later.  The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide.

Source: National School Safety Center's Report on School Associated Violent Deaths

Blackville-Hilda High School, Blackville, South Carolina

Thursday, October 12, 1995

Toby R. Sincino was bullied by his classmates.  He was suspended a week earlier for making an obscene gesture.  He brought a .32-caliber revolver back to school with him and shot math teacher Johnny Thompson, 38, in the face.  Toby then went into a teacher's workroom and shot at math teacher Phyllis Senn.  Toby then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide.  Johnny was only wounded in this shooting.

THOSE WHO DIED:

Source: National School Safety Center's Report on School Associated Violent Deaths

John F. Kennedy High School, Richmond, Virginia

Monday, October 30, 1995

At 2:05 p.m. the school day had just ended and students were milling about on the grounds of their school, talking to friends, waiting for buses and the like.  Edward Earl Spellman, 17, was standing across the street from the school's parking lot, wearing a dark blue shirt with a beige stripe, dark pants and shoes.  On his body was a .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol.  Clifford Hill, a senior, Shantell Byrd, Saaeda Pulliam and Jarshima Roberson, all juniors, were just starting on their walk home when Edward walked up behind them and called out to them and said, "Do you all have something you want to say to me?"  Before any of them could respond, Edward pulled out the pistol, ran toward them and opened fire.  He shot Saaeda in the left leg above the knee, Shantell in the back and Jarshima and Clifford in the legs.  After the shooting, Edward fled on foot.  All four injured students were taken to Medical College of Virginia Hospitals for treatment.  Clifford and Jarshima were treated and released while Shantell and Saaeda remained hospitalized in stable conditions.  Police believe a year-long feud between youths who live in two housing projects, Whitcomb Courts and Fairfield Courts, may be the cause of this shooting.  On Wednesday Henrico police issued arrest warrants for Landon Thaddeus Rogers, 15, and Edward Earl Briley, also known as Edward Earl Spellman.  Also on Wednesday, Saaeda was released from the hospital.  The next day, Edward turned himself into police. The following day, Friday, Landon was apprehended at 4:00 in the evening in the Baltimore home of his aunt after Baltimore police received a Crime Stoppers tip from Henrico police.  Both were charged with four counts of malicious wounding and using a firearm in a felony.  Edward's mother wanted her son charged under her maiden name (Spellman) so that he wouldn't be linked to two brothers, James D. and Linwood E. Briely, who killed 11 people in the Richmond area in the 1970's.  The  families are not related, but she feared someone might assume they were. Edward was tried as an adult in this shooting, convicted in April 1996 and was sentenced to 26 years in prison and 32 years suspended.  Under Virginia's laws, Edward must serve 22 years of the sentence before being eligible for parole. Charges against Landon were dropped all together as he wasn't involved with this shooting.  However, shortly after the shooting, he went to a nearby apartment complex and fired his gun into the air.   Police charged him with discharging a weapon within 1,000 feet of a school.

THE INJURED:

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch - Panic, Disbelief as Shots Rang Out; Richmond Times-Dispatch - Gunman Shoots 4 Kennedy Students - Shots Pepper Group From Across Street; Richmond Times-Dispatch - Shooting at School is Linked to Feud - Whitcomb, Court, Fairfield in Rivalry; Richmond Times-Dispatch - Petitions Name Two in School Shootings - Both Believed in Area and Dangerous; Richmond Times-Dispatch - 2nd Youth Arrested in School Shooting; Richmond Times-Dispatch - Kennedy Student Says Spellman was Gunman - Case is Sent to Henrico Circuit Court; Richmond Times-Dispatch - One Suspect is Absolved; Richmond Times-Dispatch - Youth Sentenced to 26 Years for Shooting at High School

Blue Lake Elementary School, Miami Beach, Florida

Thursday, November 2, 1995

Catalino "Nick" Slang was a very unhappy waiter with the IRS.  He took out his frustration today by seizing a Dade County school bus filled with 13 disabled students and three adults.  He held them hostage and forced the driver to take them on a 15-mile ride to a restaurant.  Police arrived at the restaurant and began to negotiate with him.  When the talks for surrender failed, police shot Nick to death.

Source: National School Safety Center's Report on School Associated Violent Deaths

Richland High School, Lynnville, Tennessee

Wednesday, November 15, 1995

Jamie Rouse, 17, brought a .22-caliber semiautomatic hunting rifle to school on this autumn day.  He kills Carolyn Foster, a business teacher, and classmate Diane Collins. He wounds math teacher Carol Yancey. Classmate Thomas Jenkins talked him into stopping the rampage.  Jamie is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

THOSE WHO DIED:

THE INJURED:

Source: The Tennessean - 1995 School Shooting Still Vivid for Giles Residents (published 4-23-07)

Thomas A. Edison Vocational and Technical High School, New York City, New York

Tuesday, November 28, 1995

Quentin Gamble, 17, finished taking his shop class test this morning around 11:20 and then left the school without permission.  As he was walking along the street, a car stopped at a park and playground near the school.  Three youths got out of the car and two of them confronted Quentin, wanting his gold chain necklace.  Quentin refused to give it to them, so one of them pulled out a .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol and the other one pulled out a bottle.  Quentin began to run from the duo and they pursued.  It was 11:30 when the gun totting youth opened fire and shot Quentin three times, once in the head, chest and groin.  He collapsed to the ground and the trio fled the scene.  Quentin was transported to Mary Immaculate Hospital where he died a few hours later.  This happened two days before Thanksgiving.

Source: The New York Times - Student, 17, is Killed After Leaving School in Queens

William H. Taft High School, New York City, New York

Wednesday, November 29, 1995

Andy Genao, 17, has an unremarkable record at William H. Taft High School.  He wasn't a troublemaker and he was regularly in class.  With that type of background, it makes his attempted suicide very surprising to his classmates and family.  Just after 9:00, a teacher was facilitating the dismissal of students from a classroom and entry of the students of the next class when Andy calmly walked up to one of the fourth-story windows in the room.  Before the teacher could reach the window and stop him, Andy jumped out and fell to the ground.  He landed in a snowy patch of grass that officials believed saved his life.  He had a concussion and was semi-conscious when help surrounded him.  He was transported to Lincoln Hospital where doctors found no broken bones or spinal damage.  Doctors said he was "a very fortunate young man."  The student body of William H. Taft High School is bigger than some small western towns, with almost 4,300 students on campus everyday.

Source: The New York Times - Student, 17, Survives a Leap From His Classroom Window

St. George Roman Catholic (Secondary) School, Maida Vale, West London, England

Friday, December 8, 1995

Headmaster Philip Lawrence had increased security at the school, closed some of the entrances and installed a video camera at another entrance in an effort to keep his pupils safe.  Unfortunately, he couldn't add more security measures just outside the school's gates.  Today, as the students were leaving for the day, one 13-year-old boy was approached by a dozen male teens. The group began to attack the boy and Philip rushed into the fray.  He was punched and stabbed in the chest repeatedly but was able to stagger back into the school building to raise the alarm for help.  The male teens fled the scene on foot.  Philip, 48, was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington where he died. The 13-year-old boy was also taken to the hospital and treated for head injuries.  15-year-old Learco Chindamo was found guilty of murdering Philip in 1996 and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 12 years time to serve.  During his trial, Learco claimed that another teen had taken his jacket and had killed Philip. Learco is a member of the Wo-Sing-Wo gang, which aspired to be the juvenile equivalent of the Triads.  Philip's death sent the school spiraling downward for several years with waves of violent acts between pupils and academic failings. The Westminster Education and Leisure Committee closed the school for an extra week in February 2000 and threatened to shut the school down completely.  However, the committee was able to put in place a stronger headmaster and ethos and St. George's showed much progress by June 2000.  In March 2001, the school completely rebounded and was taken off the "special measures" list. On Friday, January 17, 2003, 21-year-old William Njoh was convicted of carrying a loaded Browning .22-caliber pistol at the 2002 Notting Hill Carnival.  Eight years earlier, William was the 13-year-old boy that Philip saved from Learco and his gang.  This was the latest in arrests for William, who's earliest criminal record was for robbery in May 1998, just 2 1/2 years after the death of Philip.

Source: BBC News - Youth Gang Stabs Head Teacher to Death; BBC News - Teenager Loses Appeal Against Murder of Headteacher; BBC News - Violence Closes Murdered Head's School; BBC News - Murdered Head's School Turns Around; BBC News - Boost for Philip Lawrence's School; The Guardian - Youth Saved By Murdered Headmaster Faces Prison

Oxon Hill High School, Washington, D. C.

Thursday, December 14, 1995

Another attempted robbery ends in death, this time in our nation's capitol. Youths wearing masks wanted a classmate's coat as the student waited at a bus stop.  The robbery went bad and the masked youths opened fire, killing 17-year-old Charles "Chuckie" Marsh.

Source: National School Safety Center's Report on School Associated Violent Deaths

An Elementary School in Vladikavkaz, Russia

December 1995

Yurl Kardanoc, 30 set off two hand grenades in a kindergarten classroom on a cold winter's day in Russia.  He killed three children, wounded three other children, three policemen and himself in the blast.

Girard High School, Girard, Pennsylvania

Tuesday, January 2, 1996

After the world celebrated the new year yesterday, school violence marches on. 16-year-old John Pegg shots himself in the head while in one of Girard's hallways.

Source: National School Safety Center's Report on School Associated Violent Deaths

Martha H. Winston Community (High) School, Washington, D.C.

Friday, January 19, 1996

Damion Blocker is an eighth-grader at Roper Middle School in northeast Washington.  Today, the 14-year-old, was visiting Winston School to pickup a relative.  While he was doing that, 18-year-old Derrick Evans had donned a ski mask and began chasing another teenager at the school (for what purpose, I don't know).  At one point, Derrick believed he had a clear shot at his target and opened fire.  Unfortunately, the bullet landed in Damion's  body and killed the young boy.

Source: National School Safety Center's Report on School Associated Violent Deaths

With a history of depression and problems with his girlfriend, 16-year-old Douglas Bradley drove to school this morning in his navy blue Honda Accord.  He drove onto the playground and began throwing money out the window to draw the attention of his classmates.  As students drew close to pickup the money, Douglas opened fire with a .38-caliber handgun.  He fired three shots and wounded a 14-year-old boy in the leg. With a fourth shot, Douglas committed suicide.  This shooting happened about 10:50 a.m. 

Source: Palo Alto Online - Police: Two Students Wounded in Shooting and a visitor to this site

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