Cops Seek Motive In Wash. School Shooting

Police are still trying to determine a motive for yesterday's fatal shooting at a high school in Tacoma, Wash., following the arrest of a suspect who knew the victim.

The shooting, which happened just before the first period bell rang on the day classes resumed after the holiday break, sent students scrambling as 17-year-old Samnang Kok lay dying in a hallway. The shooter bolted out a set of double doors.

About two hours later Wednesday, police arrested fellow student Douglas Chanthabouly, 18, a few blocks away from Henry Foss High School. He was booked for investigation of first-degree murder.

Witnesses say the gunman fired three shots at point-blank range, splattering blood on lockers and setting off panic. He did not appear to be aiming at anyone other than the victim, who was 17.

CBS affiliate KIRO correspondent Rick Price reported that a weapon had been recovered by police, but it could not yet be determined whether it was the weapon involved in the shooting.

The suspect was found in a South Tacoma neighborhood after a woman who knew about the shooting heard her dog barking.

"I (saw) a young gentleman walk down here in a black sweat shirt and a black pair of pants, and I called 911," Vonitha Carter told KIRO. Her dog started barking a few minutes later when the youth reappeared. She called 911 again and police arrested him.

The shooter and victim knew each other but detectives did not immediately know a motive, Tacoma Police Chief Donald Ramsdell said. He said the arrested boy, who had no prior criminal record, was cooperative.

"Today we lost a nice young person in a Tacoma public school in an act of senseless violence," Ramsdell said. He vowed to work with the school district to "prevent this type of situation in the future."

Chanthabouly was expected to make an initial court appearance Thursday. It was not immediately known if he had obtained a lawyer.

Sheriff's Detective Ed Troyer said the teen was on suicide watch, which is common in high-profile cases. Police said the shooting was not believed to be gang related or racially motivated.

When the shooting began, "I was 20 feet away," said the school's principal, Don Herbert. "The only thing I could have done was taken the shot instead. But it happened very fast."

An armed school resource officer was on the scene within seconds of the shooting and radioed police for help as teachers herded students into classrooms and the gymnasium, said Detective Chris Taylor. Three teams of about six officers, each armed with rifles, swept the school to ensure the gunman had left.

Two 15-year-old sophomores, Malcolm Clark and Josh Wilber, said they witnessed the shooting and were questioned by police.

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

Other students "were like, 'Nah, he's playing. He's going to get up,"' Wilber said. "And then the teachers started yelling, 'Get in the classroom!"'

Kok died of three shots at point-blank range. He was the father of an 18-month old son, Makhai Kok, with his girlfriend, Tiari Johnson, 16. No one else was hurt in the 7:30 a.m. shooting.

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.