Case of Interest: 13-year-old boy convicted of 38 felonies, 1 misdemeanor

Date: July 26, 2002
Contact: Richard Yenovkian, Deputy District Attorney
(916) 875-5211
Type of proceeding: Trial
Minor’s name: Name withheld due to age (13)

District Attorney Jan Scully announced today that the 13-year-old boy who intended to “Do a Columbine” at Barrett Middle School was convicted of 38 felonies and one misdemeanor in Juvenile Court yesterday.

On 3/20/02 at 8:50 a.m. the teenager told three of his close friends that he was going to "do a Columbine, shoot up the school". Ten minutes later the suspect burst into classroom 17 and ordered everyone to the ground while he panned the room with his dad’s loaded .22 revolver. All 31 8^th grade students and the science teacher ducked under the desk for cover. He ordered the teacher at gunpoint to give him the keys so he could lock the door. After he was unable to do so, he ordered the teacher to lock the door but warned if she ran, he would kill her. The terrified teacher faked locking the door and ran out of the class and into the next classroom wherein she reported the crime.

The angry teenager then held the students captive until some of the crying female students were able to persuade him to release them. As some of the girls were leaving, a responding Citrus Heights Police Officer entered the room with his gun drawn. The minor pointed his handgun at the officer and the officer crouched for cover. As both were pointing their handguns at each other, the officer ordered the minor to drop the gun 4 times. After he finally placed his 9 shot revolver on the desk, the suspect was arrested. The remainder of the students ran from the classroom into the school office. A search of the minor revealed 4 extra .22 bullets and marijuana in his pants pocket and a box of 50 .22 bullets in his backpack.

Deputy District Attorney Richard Yenovkian stated, "The minor had a hit list of 8 persons that he intended to kill-3 were school staff and 5 were students who were in other classes. The teacher was #1 on his list. She, some of the students, and some parents of the students will be giving Victim Impact statements at the sentencing."