Person holding a hand gun.

Three Arrested After Target Practice Hits Nearby School Buildings

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • September 28, 2020

Police arrested three men after their target practice led to bullet holes at nearby middle and high school buildings in Ceres, California.

On Thursday afternoon, an administrative assistant at Walt Hanline Middle School was working in the office when she heard gunshots, reports the Modesto Bee. She took cover as “pieces of ceiling tile fell on her,” Ceres Police Sgt. Greg Yotsuya told the local newspaper. A coach at Central Valley High School was inside the gym getting ready for practice when two bullets hit a wall.

Police later found bullet holes and 10 spent rounds at the Central Valley High campus.

According to Jay Simmonds, assistant superintendent for student support services for the Ceres Unified School District, the schools border orchards, fields, and a police rifle range, so they are accustomed to hearing gunfire.  

Officers confiscated six handguns and rifles, including a gold-plated AK-47 from Juan Garibay-Acevedo, Max Perez-Mendez, and Samuel Perez-Mendez. The men said they were shooting into the dirt, but with the schools nearby, Yotsuya called their actions “reckless.”

The schools were closed due to COVID-19 so no students were present at the time of the shootings. However, high school students were beginning to arrive for sports practice at the gym.

The three men were arrested and booked for shooting at an inhabited dwelling, negligent discharge of a firearm, child endangerment and possession of an illegal assault weapon.

The police department had to report the incident — regardless of intent — to the Department of Justice as a school shooting.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning and Campus Security and Life Safety. She can be reached at [email protected]

Featured

  • Campus Parking Problems: Modern Security Solutions

    Parking: for many, it’s an everyday fact of life. Whenever we drive somewhere, we must consider parking, and often, that parking experience sets our mood and expectations for the rest of the journey. Whether a quick grocery store pickup or long-term airport parking, the parking lot is an integral part of whatever type of campus you’re visiting. This includes destinations like retail stores, your local high school, hospitals, and the park-and-ride systems present in major cities. Read Now

  • The Critical Need for Naloxone on School Campuses

    The opioid crisis is escalating across the United States, increasingly affecting all segments of the population, including students on K-12 and college campuses. As the threat from opioids, especially fentanyl, becomes more widespread, it's critical for schools to have naloxone available—an antidote for opioid overdoses. This article discusses why naloxone should be as common as Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in educational settings. Read Now

  • Best Practices for A Holistic Approach to Video Solutions in Campus Security

    Video surveillance is one of the most common security measures implemented by educational institutions today, but installing cameras is just the beginning. Adopting a holistic, comprehensive approach to video surveillance is a more effective way to safeguard campus communities and fully realize the value of your investment in physical security systems. Read Now

  • Back to School Planning is a Year-Round Commitment

    With summer underway, K-12 and college students, faculty, and staff are taking a well-earned break to recharge and gear up for the fall. It’s also the season when security professionals can get in and get busy installing upgrades and retrofits before the new school year starts. It’s a brief window, but, thanks to diligent planning throughout the year, the pros are always ready to hit the ground running at the last bell of spring term to make the most out of the limited time available. Read Now

Most   Popular

Webinars

Whitepapers