Posted on 01/24/2006 7:22:54 AM PST by Rio
VACAVILLE, Calif. -- A 14-year-old boy was arrested Monday after bringing a gun to school and discharging it in the gym at the Will C. Wood High School, Vacaville police said.
A 15-year-old girl sustained a wound to her face when the gun accidentally went off while the boy was handling it inside his backpack.
The bullet struck a concrete sidewalk in the area of the school's gym, and a piece of the bullet or concrete struck the girl, according to Vacaville Unified School District Superintendent John Aycock. She was taken to VacaValley Hospital for treatment.
"The girl wasn't a target. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. There was no intent to hurt anyone," Vacaville Police Lt. Craig Rossiter said. "But the question remains, what was he doing with the gun in school? ... But everybody's fine, and the school's getting back to normal."
The school district informed parents of the incident via a recorded phone message and a statement posted on the district's Web site. The school was locked down for about two hours after the 9:50 a.m. incident.
Aycock said the boy was entering the gym, where about 100 students had gathered for physical education, when the gun accidentally discharged. He was detained by school officials before police arrived.
Police said they have no motive for the shooting. They believe the shot may have been fired unintentionally. They also said that the weapon was stolen from a family member's locked gun safe.
The boy has been booked into the Solano County Juvenile Hall on a variety of charges including negligent discharge of a firearm and grand theft of a firearm.
Wonder what his DU forum name is..
Given the proper training, the gun would never have shown up in school. Most kids that I know whose parents own guns have taken the necessary training courses, and wouldn't think of nringing the weapon into school. This is another case of parents letting their children go unchecked.
Vacaville translates to "Cow Town".
But the school's teach safe sex, so they must be okay....
How about a Gun Safety course? What Not to Do.
I know this thing happens in all kinds of cities and towns, but what popped out at me was the place, Vacaville, the location of a prison.
It reminded me of Leavenworth, Ks, where several state and federal prisons are located. And where many prisoners' families, (with their kids), move, in order to be able to visit their imprisoned family members.
Just an observation on a particular group of understandably, troubled kids.
Vacaville: Former home base and operational center of Cindy Sheehan (now that she's moved to Berkeley).
Not to mention the California State Prison - Solano. One time home of Charles Manson. Yep, we got the beauts.
My problem is Solano Juvenile Hall is located over a high fence about 500 feet from my house.
But of course, I used to find it amusing that San Quentin was in Marin. Uber beautiful Marin. Ah, so organic.
Training is absolutely necessary but not absolute insurance against stupidity.
Raising teenagers these days is like herding cats. You give them the tools and the proper value system and hope they learn from other people's mistakes. Some don't.
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