Classmates of the teenager who brought an unloaded gun to Hammond High School in June said he committed a foolish act that still has some students afraid.
“I know he felt bad about it,” said Dainelle Jones, 17, a senior who once played basketball with the 15-year-old boy.
“If I would have known about it, I would have tried to do something to stop it. A lot of kids are afraid to come to school now.”
Master William Tucker sentenced the Columbia teen to probation Tuesday at Howard County juvenile court for bringing an unloaded gun and ammunition to the school in June because he was afraid of a gang.
“You are not a bad kid, but you did something that was extremely foolish and dangerous,” Tucker said.
“I just would like the opportunity to show I can do better and be an example to other teenagers,” the boy said.
Tucker also set a number of conditions, such as 150 hours of community service.
The case will be reviewed Nov. 27, when Tucker will determine whether the boy has made progress in his rehabilitation and should be taken off probation.
The sentence was what State Attorney Cindy Johnson and the teen?s attorney, Jenny Parks, asked the master to consider.
The teen will live with his father, a Washington firefighter whose name The Examiner is withholding. The boy will attend school at Homewood Center in Ellicott City.
“I believe he understands what he did was wrong, and he is doing better and has a positive attitude of the future,” said his father, who added his son had volunteered at a homeless shelter.
AT A GLANCE
Master William Tucker set the following conditions for the teen?s probation:
» Complete 150 hours of community service;
» Attend counseling, a mentoring program and a victim-awareness education program;
» Notify authorities of any change of address;
» Abstain from possessing or using drugs/alcohol and firearms.
