The teenager charged last week in connection with bringing a gun to school did not have a hit list, but school officials learned that the disgruntled youth targeted four students, said Sterlind Burke, principal of Hammond High School in Howard County.
About 40 parents attended a breakfast meeting Thursday with Burke to discuss the incident. The parents of the four students whom the 15-year-old targeted were notified immediately, Burke said.
The Examiner reported Wednesday that several students were concerned that the student carrying the gun and extra ammunition had a hit list containing students? and faculty names.
“We did find in our conversations that the student intended to harm four students and one of those students did not go here,” Burke said. “There was no evidence of a written list, no adults named and no hit list we are aware of.”
Police were unaware of four students being targeted and have no evidence of a list, police spokeswoman Sherry Llewelyn said.
“That?s the first I heard of this,” Llewelyn said.
Parents at the meeting demanded to know if the faculty was aware of the student?s violent tendencies or if this was a Bloods or Crips gang-related incident.
“As with every jurisdiction around the state, we have people who identify with gangs,” security coordinator Steve Drummond said.
In this case, officials believe one of the targeted students was in a gang, Burke said. He did not identify the gang. It is also “possible the incident was broader than one individual,” Burke said.
Because of confidentiality rules, Burke said he couldn?t discuss the 15-year-old?s discipline record.
“I understand confidentiality, but it has to be balanced with a community?s right to protect its children,” said a Hammond parent, who did not provide his name.
The 15-year-old is still on suspension while his case is being processed, but he is not expected to return to Hammond, said David Bruzga, administrative director of secondary schools.
COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN?
What did school officials fail to tell Hammond parents this year?
» Student threatened to kill a faculty member on his MySpace page.
» Student brought a BB gun to school.
Why the silence?
» “I don?t see it serving a purpose to share each disciplinary action with the community,” Principal Sterlind Burke said. “No school does that.”
