TACOMA: Defendant in killing at Foss High declared competent to stand trial:
Foss High School gunman, Douglas S. Chanthabouly, has been ruled mentally competent to stand trial in the January 2007 shooting death of Samnang Kok.
Previously Chanthabouly had been ruled competent, then incompetent, and now after a review by Western State Hospital doctors, he’s ruled competent once again.
As far as I can recollect no motive has yet to be divulged in the year-and-a-half-old shooting.
Date set for Hainstock’s hearing:
The first hearing to see if Eric Hainstock’s murder conviction will be overturned has been scheduled for December 10th.
If you’ll recall Hainstock shot Weston Schools principal John Klang three times. Klang later died from his wounds at the hospital.
Hainstock’s attorney argues that he was in no mental state to waive his rights at police questioning.
Prosecutors seek to try 15-year-old Central High shooter as adult:
Prosecutors have filed a petition to have Jamar Siler tried as an adult in the shooting death of Ryan McDonald.
The decision on whether Siler rates transfer to the adult court system rests solely with Irwin and could mean the difference between a few years of punishment and rehabilitation efforts in a juvenile facility and a minimum 51-year sentence in a state prison.
Under the law, Irwin must consider two key things – is Siler committable to a mental health facility and, if not, are there programs within the juvenile justice system to rehabilitate Siler.
No and no. Cue the whiners.
Knoxville teachers want students’ criminal records:
After the shooting death of Ryan McDonald at Central High in Knoxville, teachers there say they want to know about students’ juvenile criminal records and who can blame them?
Personally, I think they should do away with the whole sealed records thing. If you got caught drinking underage, big deal. Shoplifting, who cares? Vandalism, no big thing. Murder, rape, violent crime, that’s something that people need to know.
I can hear the whiny voices now though…But Trench what about second chances? Screw second chances. Their victims didn’t get second chances. Ryan McDonald won’t get a second chance. There are no guaranteed second chances in life. Deal with it.
More details are emerging about yesterday’s shooting at Central High School in Knoxville.
The victim Ryan McDonald suffered from Alopecia which is a disease that leaves you bald. According to family members, he was teased horribly because of it. So maybe this is not unlike the E.O. Green shooting where the victim was the one actually being harassed.
As I mentioned yesterday the shooter is 15-year-old Jamar Siler. His sister, 22-year-old Ciara S. Siler, is a wanted fugitive in another shooting murder. The elder Siler allegedly shot and killed Jerri Lynn Goodman and is believed to be hiding out in the housing projects of Nashville. Jamar Siler was adopted into that family so it makes an interesting argument for nurture over nature.
Now tell me if this sounds like someone who deserved to be shot because I’m sure there is someone out there that will say that he did…
According to his uncle, Ryan already had a desire to help others — particularly those with challenges to overcome.
“He wanted to work with children. He was going to Helen Ross McNabb, and they would work with him there,” Roger says. “And I think he saw that he could help kids, because of stuff he had been through.”
Also according to that article donations in Ryan’s name can be sent here.
Also like I said yesterday Jamar Siler is being charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors have said they’re not sure yet if they will seek to have him tried as an adult. By now you should know my thoughts on that. Siler also had his probation revoked but his previous charge has not been made public.
Apparently, Siler had quite the family support for his court appearance yesterday…
Siler’s adoptive mother and his custodian, a woman identified by the judge as his sister, were both in court, along with his biological mother and grandmother, plus several other family members.
Some of those family members say Siler’s biological mother lost custody of her six children years ago.
Quite the family history but still no excuse for murder.
Parents have been saying that there has been a lack of discipline in the school.
According to this article, both victim and suspect had minor run-ins with the law. It didn’t say what Ryan McDonald’s transgressions were but it did say that Siler had previously been cited for public intoxication.
The school flew the flag at half-mast today.
Police are now saying that they know the motive behind the shooting but will only say it wasn’t gang or race related. They say the motive will be revealed on the 28th when a court hearing is scheduled.
Student guns down classmate at Tennessee high school:
As by now, I’m sure you’ve heard there was shooting at Central High School in Knoxville, Tenn. where a 16-year-old student died.
The victim has been identified as Ryan McDonald. The suspect is 15-year-old Jamar Siler. No motive has been given as of yet. Siler is charged with first-degree murder and is being held in a juvenile facility.
Witnesses say that Siler just walked away calmly after shooting McDonald.
More on this as details become available and time allows.
Thanks to Gage for the tip.
Guns Allowed on Campus in North Texas School District:
The Harrold Independent School District in North Texas has decided that teachers will now be allowed to carry guns to prevent a Columbine or Virginia Tech. Personally, I think this one of the most idiotic ideas I’ve ever heard.
Teachers barely discipline their students as it is because of fear of lawsuits. Do you think one is actually going to open fire in a crowded classroom and risk hitting an innocent? I seriously doubt it.
The flip side to that argument is what if there is a gunman and a shootout ensues and an innocent is struck by a teacher’s bullet? The school is a no win situation either way. Not to mention what if a student steals a teacher’s gun and uses it in a school shooting.
What if you have one of those child touching teachers we keep hearing about. This just gives them one more option of coercion.
I think the negatives greatly outweigh the positives. As a matter of fact, I can’t even think of one positive.
Family of gay boy says dress code led to killing:
In one of the most blatant acts of irresponsibility I’ve read about lately the parents of Lawrence King filed a personal injury claim against the school district for not enforcing the dress code leading to the shooting death of 15-year-old King at E.O. Green Junior High.
To recap King was openly gay and would sometimes wear women’s clothes to school. King was bullied by Brandon McInerney and King would retaliate by mockingly flirting with McInerney which led to King being killed by McInerney.
Filing a claim personal injury is a precursor to a lawsuit.
His parents, Dawn and Gregory King, allege faculty knew their son had “unique vulnerabilities” and was subject to abuse because of his sexual orientation.
Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t King’s parents throw him out of their house for being gay? So if they really wanted to protect him they wouldn’t have thrown him out and wouldn’t have let him dress like that to school.
The blame does not lie with the school district, it lies with Brandon McInerney and to a lesser extent Dawn and Gregory King. Ultimately it was your responsibility on what Lawrence wore to school. Any money you collect from this is nothing but blood money.
Student wants new trial in Wis. principal’s death:
Not only does Eric Hainstock want us to feel sorry for him now he also wants a new trial.
As you’ll recall Hainstock shot and killed Principal John Klang of Weston Schools in Wisconsin.
His latest attorney has filed a motion stating his counsel during the trial was ineffective. Paul G. Bonneson says that Hainstock wasn’t competent enough to waive his rights before he was questioned.
That’s strange because he was competent enough to steal, load, and fire a gun killing a father, husband, and principal.
Johnson faces Sept. 4 sentencing for weapon charge:
Jonesboro gunman Mitchell Johnson will be sentenced on federal weapons charges stemming from his Jan. 1st, 2007 arrest. He was convicted this past January. He’s looking at 10 years and a $250K fine and I expect nothing but the max. He’s in jail again on theft charges for stealing a customer’s bank card from the mini-mart he worked at.
It’s his birthday today too. I hope your celly gave you a nice package.