Monroe Parents Express Concern After Shootings

NORTH HILLS —  In the wake of the third shooting at or near James Monroe High School in less than a year, several dozen parents concerned about the safety of their children converged on the school Tuesday, with hundreds more telephoning to seek assurances.

“They want to know what’s being done,” said Assistant Principal Thane Opfell.

Meanwhile, school police and LAPD anti-gang patrols were beefed up at the school where two students, ages 15 and 17, were wounded Monday.

The shooting occurred about 10 minutes after classes ended at the intersection of Nordhoff Street and Haskell Avenue as dozens of students waited to cross the street.

An 18-year-old suspected gang member, Alex Elias, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and additional suspects were being sought, police said.

Elias is not believed to be the gunman but was part of a group of young men who fought with one of the victims before the shooting, said Det. Ken Crocker of the LAPD’s Devonshire Division. The second victim is believed to have been a bystander.

Crocker said detectives have a lead to the identity of the gunman and were actively pursuing the case Tuesday.

Contrary to earlier reports by authorities, it was the younger of the two victims who suffered the more serious injuries.

The 15-year-old student, who suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and a graze wound to the head, was in stable condition at an undisclosed hospital after surgery, Crocker said. The 17-year-old was treated for a bullet wound to the shin and released.

Crocker said there is no evidence that either victim is affiliated with gangs.

Parents began arriving at the school early Tuesday morning and jamming phone lines with an estimated 200 calls, Opfell said.

“They are concerned,” he said. “We are discussing ways we can convey to parents that the campus is safe.”

Monday’s shooting was the third in less than a year in which a Monroe student was the victim.

On Nov. 21, 1997, 15-year-old Ricky Evans was slain in a drive-by shooting after a football game at Monroe; in June, another drive-by claimed the life of 17-year-old Jose Gonzalez.

A 15-year-old Pacoima youth turned himself in to police for Evans’ shooting, and police arrested a suspect in the shooting of Gonzalez. Both cases are pending, police said.

Opfell pointed out that none of the shootings was on school grounds.

“We are of course a microcosm of the community we serve,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that incidents may take place in the community that the school has to deal with.”

In addition to an increased police presence on and around the campus, Opfell said grief counselors were on hand to help students.

A letter was being sent home with students to their parents on Tuesday, Opfell said.

It read, in part: “Please be assured that we will continue our efforts to provide a safe and secure environment for your student.”

But parent Julie Bacon said she’s glad her son is a senior. “I’m frightened for my son. I’m glad he’s almost out of there,” she said.

She said her son, Joshua Rosenthal, did not even seem fazed by the shooting.

“That in itself is kind of sad--I mean they are used to it,” she said.