SACRAMENTO (AP) The high school student shot twice by police
after threatening a teacher with a loaded shotgun and holding a
vice principal hostage remained in critical condition Thursday as
the injured administrator rested at home after medical treatment.
Mario Rodriguez, 19, who was shot in the chest by police, was
hospitalized at the UC Davis Medical Center and was expected to
live, said Jim Elliot, spokesman for the school district.
Vice Principal L.C. Brown, a former Los Angeles policeman, was
hurt while he helped steer students from danger during the incident
at Rio Cazadero High School on Wednesday.
``He is home and in good spirits,'' said Samantha Bauer,
spokeswoman for the school.
The school was quiet Thursday, with additional security and
counseling for the students.
Brown, who has been with the school for 12 years, was hurt
between the time the student let the teacher and students go and
the moment police arrived. It was still not clear how he was
injured, Elliot said.
Police say Rodriguez walked into the school in time for his
first class, armed with a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and a
realistic-looking replica handgun. His friends said Rodriguez was
upset after a breakup with his girlfriend.
Meanwhile, police said Thursday they are looking for a
19-year-old man in another Sacramento high school shooting in which
a 15-year-old student was killed.
Police said Rickie Che was a suspect in the killing Tuesday of
Roberto Treadway outside a sandwich shop a block from McClatchy
High School.
Police said the suspect and Treadway are believed to be
affiliated with a gang, but Treadway's friends and family dispute
the accusation.
``He was just the sweetest person you ever met,'' Treadway's
cousin Vanessa Valles said. She said he was not involved with a
gang, but grew up in an area with gang activity and had friends who
were gang members.
``We all have friends who are in gangs,'' Valles said. ``It's
where you grow up.''
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)