Student Held In Fatal School Shooting

Teenager Shot To Death In Tacoma, Wash. High School Hallway

(CBS/AP)  A teenager was shot to death in a high school hallway Wednesday as classes resumed after the winter break, and police arrested a fellow student found wandering a neighborhood a few miles away, authorities said.

Police said the suspected gunman fled the scene, CBS affiliate KIRO reports, but he was later found and taken into custody.

Police aren't yet releasing a motive for the shooting, reports CBS News correspondent Lora McLaughlin, but they say it wasn't random.

Witnesses said the gunman fired three shots at point-blank range, splattering blood on lockers at Foss High School and setting off panic. He did not appear to be aiming at anyone other than the victim.

The victim "got shot — bang — and he just fell," said sophomore Malcolm Clark. "He just froze and he fell backwards into the lockers."

The teenager suspected in the shooting was caught without incident about two hours later in a suburban area dotted with homes and shopping centers.

The identities of the two students were not immediately released.

Freshman Sam Sao, 14, said she was in the lunchroom, waiting for the bell to ring, when the shots were heard about 7:30 a.m.

"Everyone was yelling, `Get in the gym! Get in the gym!"' she said. "At first we thought it was a fight. Then the teachers started getting on the tables and screaming."

Student Jacki Phongsavath told KOMO-TV of Seattle he was in a nearby hallway when he heard the gunfire. "I thought it was fireworks," Phongsavath said. "I looked around the corner and saw someone laying on the ground and blood on the lockers."

The school was locked down after the shooting. Classes were canceled for the rest of the day and students sent home about an hour later.

Angela Millette was among the parents who rushed to pick up children from a nearby grocery store parking lot. Millette, who did not have time to change out of her pajamas after hearing about the shooting, threw her arms around daughter Ashley, 16.

"I was looking for her and finally, by the grace of God the person opened up the school bus, and there's my daughter," Millette said. "I was so glad to see that she was OK."

[mttrunatv]

The reader that commented that the loss of respect and responsibility for peoples actions toward each other is much closer to the truth than those that are bringing religion into the matter. For one there was nothing given in the article about religious beliefs and even if there was it would be nothing more than a cop out or something else to blame it on other than the fact that most kids now days have no respect for others rights or property. If I had pulled some of the stunts that kids do now when I was a kid I would have definitely found out just how in the wrong I was. It's way past time that society but out from telling parents how to raise their kids and time for the kids to quit acting like they are above the law be it moral or legal. If this student is tried he should be tried as an adultbecause he chose to think he was one so let him face the consequences of his actions and face up to the responsibility. It's way past time that when kids make these kind of choices that they be held accountable for their choice and not be allowed to flaunt the laws and then get away with it because they are "misunderstood" or people will try to blame everybody but the kid that made his own choice. It's way past time that kids be made to understand just what respect for others and discipline truly mean.

[nothappyatall]

"Police aren't yet releasing a motive for the shooting, "

Yeah like people need a "motive" these days, and when they do have one it's usually bizarre so what difference does it make what their motives were.

"I was looking for her and finally, by the grace of God the person opened up the school bus, and there's my daughter," Millette said."

Oh yeah, gotta get her little mini GOD sermon in, grace of god the bus door opened LOL what a fruitcake- shut up Millette!

[pauhanasurf]

I must agree with the paramedic, after picking up my son from school one day, (he isnow 24) when he was in 1st grade we told him to put on his seat belt in the car, he turned to us and said, "I don't have to do what you tell me to do, I am my own person and I won't put it on". This was the teachers telling the kids they don't have to do what their parents tell them to do all the time. I know the teachers did not mean it this way but the kids took it all out of context and we had problems all the way through, the disrepect came when some parents could not hold their temper and the schools were looking for abused kids but it sunk with all kids. I'd like to know how the kid got the gun in school.

[thgdriver]

Ok, Ok, I am going to stick my neck out again, how do we fix it? Their is no fix. Frankly it should be mentioned, then ignored. Again CBS did not give us enough to go on.

One kid kills one other kid and it's major news all over the nation, everyone goes into a panic about how bad it is all getting.

Millions upon millions of kids go to school every day and don't kill anyone.

In fact, millions and millions do great things every day, but you won't hear about it at CBS or anywhere else. "(it don't sell)"

Put this incident in perspective and move on.

[montanamom]

It IS applicable as the parents of these violent kids are modeling this behavior by being part of this religious fanaticism. Every father who condones punishing the adulterous neighbor, who believes that protesting at a soldier's funeral will prove that God is causing the war in Iraq to "cleanse the evil doers" in this country, who blows up an abortion clinic or tells his son that *** are evil sinners saying he's doing God's work, gives tacit approval to the children in his congregation and neighborhood to commit what would normally be considered heinous crimes. But as always, God will forgive.

[twoparamedic]

It is a shame kids killing kids. It has been a down hill run for disrespect and uncaring by people not just teens or younger children. As a paramedic for almost 25 years with fire and recue, I have seen the change. When the parents and stupid laws took away the schools control over children everything when to hell. It has nothing to do with religion, it has to do with respect and discipline, which was what students received at school, before the teachers hands was tied by the so called people "who know what is best for our children". Most of those making these laws or rules have no children and have never tried to teach a class of kids who know they can do as they please. Yes, I raised my children and I thank the Lord my children are adults. Most kids have more adult supervision at school then they do at home, don't blame the schools, blame the idots that tied their hands. Nuf said.

[jangletunes]

Respect. There is no respect for anything anymore.

Total, devastating disrespect. Complete disregard for any human life and least of all their own. Blame it on what you will. No respect. No responsibility.

Incredibly senseless. And here we sit posting on a blog?

**

[terry321654]

We can guess the number of "violent" religous people all day, but I do not believe it is at all applicable to the story above this blog. What have you done personally to try and help these children, what have you done to stop this tyranny you refer to. To cry religion as the foundation of these problems. Religion and the problems within are the same as they have always been, it is our responsibility to take these matters in our own hands and try to get involed in the solution.

[montanamom]

Out of 3.5 billion, how many of those would you consider a "few?" One billion? I think that would be enough to call a minority, at least. Maybe "few" was the wrong word to choose as it implies 2 or 3 people, not a billion, but I also never used the word ALL in reference to either religions or members of those religions. I certainly don't believe that all Muslims are violent or that all Christians are intolerant, but I do believe they are in the majority.

[terry321654]

ljburnell, thank you for being open minded, I think the best solution can be found if everyone works to see the good in what others believe.

[terry321654]

MontanaMom, there are over 3.5 Billion Muslims and Christians on the planet. I do not know how many you can name that fit in your "stereotype" but I doubt it is enough to justify the stereotype against all 3.5 billion. Nor is it enough to call the "non-violent" a "few"

[ljburnell]

Terry, point taken, Thanks again.

[terry321654]

ljburnell, I understand what your view is to some degree, but There were also a lot of other people that were raised with a stern hand that did not turn out well, Hitler comes to mind. I do not believe that it was just the strict nature of your parenting that led to you not ..shooting people. There are so many factors it is impossible to count, and yes if everyone were raised more like the people who do not... shoot other people the world would be a better place but since that is not possible we must leave the mindset of fixing parenting and take the responsibility upon ourself to actually go out and make these children feel valuable, and if the do, regardless of parenting, and certainly without violent punishment, they will in return contribute back to our society.

[squishy1990]

I highly doupt he or she was killed because of religion. I myself think it could possibly happend because of jealousy or hatred or maybe even because of he or she hung out with or race.
So many people say you are who you hang out with, it's so not true. So many teenagers hang out with different types of people. I've learned something these past couple of days, and it is we all are one. We were all created the same way, so why exacly can't we get along?

[squishy1990]

I highly doupt he or she was killed because of religion. I myself think it could possibly happend because of jealousy or hatred or maybe even because of he or she hung out with or race.
So many people say you are who you hang out with, it's so not true. So many teenagers hang out with different types of people. I've learned something these past couple of days, and it is we all are one. We were all created the same way, so why exacly can't we get along?

[usawatchman]

The WORD everyone is looking for is called

MORALITY..

[montanamom]

There may be a few that live the peaceful, non-violent doctrine that I associate with religions, but the rest defile that peaceful existence. And it's not just Christians -- it's Muslims who cry foul when the Pope states that they live by the sword and then take to the streets to riot -- just proving his point. I know there are Muslims who decry the violence, but they are unable or unwilling to band together to show the world and prevent the stereotyping.
I don't understand how people find comfort and solace in religions that champion and/or "forgive" this kind of behavior.

[ljburnell]

In your response TERRY.. Thank you for the clarification,Not trying to be rude or push my personal opinion on anyone.Just merely being reflective on the way I was raised.There was no corporal punishment involved.I was raised to believe that my actions of today will be with me for the rest of my life.I did recive a swat to get my attention,but in no way believe that to be corporal punishment.My parents wre firm with me and when they said NO I didn't have to ask twice.Just can't help thinking that in some small way the parenting skills of my parents would make a difference today.

[squishy1990]

I highly doupt he or she was killed because of religion. I myself think it could possibly happend because of jealousy or hatred or maybe even because of he or she hung out with or race.
So many people say you are who you hang out with, it's so not true. So many teenagers hang out with different types of people. I've learned something these past couple of days, and it is we all are one. We were all created the same way, so why exacly can't we get along?

[squishy1990]

I highly doupt he or she was killed because of religion. I myself think it could possibly happend because of jealousy or hatred or maybe even because of he or she hung out with.
So many people say you are who you hang out with, it's so not true. So many teenagers hang out with different types of people. I've learned something these past couple of days, and it is we all are one. We were all created the same way, so why exacly can't we get along?