On September 20, 2021, 15-year-old Jacari Taylor shot two students; one on purpose, one hit accidentally. Reports have said there were approximately 100 students in the hallway at the time of the shooting so it is a miracle that no one else was injured in the shooting. The shooting took place at Heritage High School in Newport News, Virginia. Daily Press article with video of the shooting; viewer discretion is advised
This was not Taylor's first shooting; he was attending school wearing a monitoring device while awaiting sentencing for a shooting he committed when he was 14-year-old.
I have some questions about why this student was attending school with apparently no close monitoring of him and his movements in the school. I have questions about why he was not searched each day, or why he was not made to go through a metal detector, or be wanded upon entry into the school each day.
I wonder, too, about the threat assessment at the school. Per laws on the books in Virginia, "Each division superintendent shall establish, for each school, a threat assessment team that shall include persons with expertise in counseling, instruction, school administration, and law enforcement. Threat assessment teams may be established to serve one or more schools as determined by the division superintendent. Each team shall (i) provide guidance to students, faculty, and staff regarding recognition of threatening or aberrant behavior that may represent a threat to the community, school, or self; (ii) identify members of the school community to whom threatening behavior should be reported; and (iii) implement policies adopted by the local school board pursuant to subsection A." Threat assessment in Virginia
Threat assessment teams and committee oversight
The student, Jacari Taylor, was in school wearing a monitoring device while awaiting sentencing for a different gun crime. Where was the threat assessment team at this school? What were the plans made for this student, in order to keep students and staff safe? Thus far, no answers are forthcoming. I will update when I receive some answers.
For parents who still have kids in school, it would be a good idea to ask what kind of plans are in place to monitor any students who are attending school, with or without ankle monitors, who have been convicted of violent crimes. Due to privacy rights, you likely won't be told exactly who the violent students are (but many in the school community know), or just what plans are in place...but they can likely give general answers. If no answers are forthcoming, at least school officials are aware that parents are informed and that may impel them to formulate plans, or be more diligent in following the plans they may have.
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