First, he set his car on fire behind the school. The Cleveland Elementary School shooting, as it became known, was an early flashpoint in the gun control debate both because of the weapon used a Chinese-made Norinco Type 56 AKM-type semi . She reportedly answered: "I don't like Mondays. Countless lives were saved as officers commandeered a rubbish truck to use as a shield to drive in the line of fire to rescue the children. The girls mother, who was said to be divorced from Spencer, was also at the scene briefly but later left, police said. Gabrielle Ben-Zaken, now 19, was 15 when a classmate opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people and injuring 17 others. However, the entire siege lasted seven hours, as Spencer barricaded herself inside her home, and threatened to "come out shooting". The final addition happened in 2008. In the petition, Deputy District Attorney Charles L Patrick requested that Miss Spencer, who police say has a history of petty theft and drug abuse, be tried as an adult. It was her first teaching job in California. The shooting drastically changed my life in multiple ways: physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Twenty-nine were students and one was a teacher. Every time there is another school shooting, I cry. BRENDA Spencer, the "I Don't Like Mondays" school shooter, has been caged for 40 years since killing two people and wounding nine - aged just 16. SAN DIEGO Tuesday will mark 40 years since San Diego's first-ever school shooting, which took place at Cleveland Elementary school. I will always deal with survivors guilt and wonder why I was one of the lucky ones that lived through my experience. The victims would not have wounds, theyd be dead. Susan Rodgers. But on the other hand, I take every opportunity I can to travel or do something I love. On a clear blue day on Jan. 17, 1989, a man whose peripatetic life included years as a troubled Sacramento youth walked onto a playground in Stockton and shot 34 children, killing five. I dont know and the Robb teachers may not know yet if theyll ever go back to their library. For Christmas 1978, he gave her a Ruger10/22 semi-automatic .22caliber rifle with a telescopicsight and 500 rounds of ammunition. I identify deeply with the staff at Robb Elementary. Hearing arguments, a certain noise, or even smells can be extremely triggering for me and set me into panic mode. They were huddled in the classroom with the police running around the campus and dogs barking as someone pretended to try to get into the classroom. It was a dark moment in Stockton history, remembered for its impact on the community with the lives of five students, none older than 10-years old, lost. Its been 32 years and absolutely nothing has changed. Killed were Cleveland Grammar Schools principal and a custodian. While there, she spoke by telephone to a reporter from TheSanDiegoUnion-Tribune, who had been randomly calling telephone numbers in the neighborhood. [33][34][35], The InvestigationDiscovery network portrayed Spencer's crimes in one of the three cases presented in the premiere episode of season 2 on the crime documentary series DeadlyWomen, titled "ThrillKillers", first air date: October 9, 2008.[36][37][38]. I was directly across the hallway from where the shooting occurred. The Cleveland Elementary School shooting was the first truly reported school shooting. Governor Newsom ripped into the judge's decision, vowing to fight it. The other wounded youngsters were treated and released. The elementary school campus where the infamous " I Don't Like Mondays" shootings took place 36 years ago and another nearby campus will be put up for sale following a pair of 4-1 votes Tuesday. When she saw stuff like that, shed say, Oh, wow,' one friend recalled. According to state test scores, 42% of students are at least proficient in math and 42% in reading. I am torn up at the idea that victims of school shootings like me are now faced with the possibility of becoming parents of victims of school shootings. Cleveland Elementary School. They didnt know if theyd be able to hug their children and take them home or have to face the worst day of their lives. / CBS Sacramento. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Family members of victims killed in the Uvalde school shooting confronted Texas' police chief Tuesday in an emotional end to a day . On January 29, 1979, Spencer posted herself by a window in her home and began randomly shooting at Grover Cleveland Elementary School across the street. In 1979, Spencer was convicted of the Cleveland Elementary School shooting. Two men were shot and wounded Thursday afternoon in Northwest Washington's Cleveland Park neighborhood when at least one person fired toward a construction site at an elementary school,. Geldof was later sued by a former bandmate, keyboard player Johnnie Fingers, who claimed that he wrote the music and some of the lyrics. Its caused substantial amounts of nightmares, panic attacks and flashbacks to the shooting. [17] In prison, Spencer was diagnosed with epilepsy and received medication to treat epilepsy and depression. 388 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07108. In 2004, I was a graduating senior with collegiate athlete aspirations. Log in, Background Checks Frequently Asked Questions, Guns, Politics, Legislation, and the Courts, States United to Prevent Gun Violence Blog, The countrys gun violence epidemic is killing more children than ever, A World Without School Shootings? But one Cleveland survivor is supporting the judge's move to overturn the ban. It terrifies me. There was no option to opt our kids out of school that day. Under the terms of her sentencing, Spencer became eligible for hearings to consider her suitability for parole in 1993. He was armed with an AKS rifle, a semiautomatic version of the militarys AK-47, according to the National Institute of Justice. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. We ask that perfume or perfumed products not be used at school. [8], Spencer was charged as an adult and pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and assaultwithadeadlyweapon. The Cleveland School massacre (also known as the Stockton Schoolyard Shooting) occurred on January 17, 1989. I hate loud unexpected popping noises. cleveland elementary school shooting Latest Breaking News, Pictures, Videos, and Special Reports from The Economic Times. Website. The shocking incident marked the first high profile mass school shooting in the US. Five of our children were murdered that day, and more than 30 others were wounded. Texas Gov. Contact info. By Richard Brooks, Sun Staff Writer With material from Sun news services The officer had commandeered a trash truck and was taking people out (to safety) when he got shot, Nashold later told a reporter. Cleveland Elementary Unclaimed 10225 Cleveland Road, Clayton, NC 27520 Contact info Website 7 /10 GreatSchools Rating 15 reviews Public school 852 Students Grades PK-5 Compare 7 /10 GreatSchools Summary Rating 8/10 Test Scores above average 9/10 Student Progress above average 4/10 Equity below average Last updated: Jul 18, 2022 ACADEMICS The other three had non-life-threatening injuries including my quarterback, Marcus. Required fields are marked *. I shot a pig (cop) I think and I want to shoot more. Due to my paralysis, I had to figure out how I was going to financially provide for myself and a potential family: how and where I was going to live. (See the video at the bottom of the page.). Spencer pleaded guilty to two murders, and assault with a deadly weapon. [1][5] Although Spencer showed exceptional ability as a photographer, winning first prize in a HumaneSociety competition, she was generally uninterested in school. We explain the latest developments. [3] Geldof has later mentioned that, "[Spencer] wrote to me saying 'she was glad she'd done it because I'd made her famous,' which is not a good thing to live with. Spencer skadade ven tta barn och en polis. Her next opportunity for a parole hearing will be in 2025.[21][22][23][24]. Find out more here. Two more of my students were wounded by bullets and shrapnel, and all of them were seared by what they witnessed. I heard what felt like endless rounds of gunshots going off and screams and cries for help. Jaimee Roeschke, now a senior in high school, was 15 when a 16-year-old classmate at Saugus High School shot five schoolmates, killing two and wounding three, before killing himself. Later, students were ushered to safety in the school auditorium. On the morning of January 17, 1989, an anonymous person phoned the Stockton . [1][10], In December, a psychiatricevaluation arranged by her probation officer recommended that Spencer be admitted to a mental hospital for depression, but her father refused to give permission. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Its easy and natural to want to give up, hide, self-medicate, choose anger, hatred, bitterness and even un-forgiveness. THAT WAS 29 YEARS AGO! It sickens and chills me to think about it. Later on the news, I saw them giving chest compressions to one of the victims. The teen opened fire on Grover Cleveland Elementary School in San Carlos, San Diego. During the first burst of gunfire, school principal Burton A. Wragg, 53, and school custodian Michael Suchar, 56, were fatally shot, said San Diego Superintendent of Schools Tom Goodwin. Thomas, now 35, is senior principal systems engineer for the aerospace and defense industry. 2. News reporters marked every second with live reports, video, second by second reporting. They laughed and joked as they gunned down their victims, making fun of them and mocking them for the color of their skin, if they were overweight or wore glasses. The principal came out and told the kids to hit the dirt. San Diego A freckle-faced teenage girl has been charged with 12 criminal counts including murder in connection with a sniper attack in the parking lot of Cleveland Elementary School that killed the principal and head custodian and wounded eight pupils. We were lucky? By the end of 1979 a song by Bob Geldof for his band Boomtown Rats called "I Don't Like Mondays" was number one across America and Britain. News reporters marked every second with live reports, video, second by second reporting. Police SWAT team members arrested her following a 6-1/2 hour siege at the home she shared with her divorced father. Along with her father, Miss Spencer was an avid hunter. Purdy was once a student at the very same Stockton elementary school on which he he would open fire. It doesnt exist. 1. Jan. 29, 1979: Brenda Spencer, 16, took a rifle with a scope that her father had given her for Christmas and began firing on Grover Cleveland Elementary School across the street from her home. More than 30 others were wounded by the gunman, who shot them with a semi-automatic rifle. While I was being evacuated from the classroom by SWAT team we actually had to pass one of the shooters as he was being apprehended outside my classroom door. All of the fatally shot victims and those who were wounded were Cambodian and Vietnamese immigrants. High school football player William Tipper Thomas was 17 when a fellow student got into a fight with some of his teammates in the parking lot and outside the steps of the school. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners.