One student killed in Tacoma high school shooting

[flamingyouth]

TACOMA, Wash. -- A student was shot to death at a high school here Wednesday morning, police and school officials said.

Police said the suspected shooter fled Foss High School shortly after the 7:30 a.m. shooting and was still at large.

Police spokesman Mark Fulghum said the male victim had died. His name and age were not immediately released.

The shooting happened just outside the building, Tacoma School District spokeswoman Patti Holmgren said.

"It happened right outside the school, and that person apparently fled immediately," Holmgren said. "We have a strong suspect, of course. There were witnesses."

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_School_Shooting.html

[maxsolomon]

1. predictions, anyone?

mine: NOT loner-kid-with-a-gun - this isn't a SUBurban high school.

[slackmaster]

2. Gang activity

Maybe a drug deal gone bad.

[maxsolomon]

3. sounds like you are correct

2 cambodian kids. though not neccessarily a gang.

predictable family story - mom works till 3 am at a casino. 17 year old victim was the father of a 2 year old. not a recipe for upward mobility.

drugs. or a girl?

[flamingyouth]

4. Suspected Foss High shooter charged with first-degree murder

TACOMA -- The 18-year-old accused of shooting a classmate at Foss High School Wednesday morning walked up to the victim and opened fire, according to charging documents released this afternoon.

The documents allege that Douglas Chanthabouly approached Samnang "Sam" Kok, 17, in the 300 hallway of the school Wednesday morning and Chanthabouly said, "What's up?" He then raised a handgun and fired one shot at Kok's face, striking the victim from six to 12 inches away, according to the charging documents.

Witnesses told police that Kok fell to the ground and Chanthabouly fired two more shots into his body. Chanthabouly then waved the gun at witnesses and fled, according to the documents.

Chanthabouly has been charged with first-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment this afternoon. Bail was set at $1 million.

The documents offered little information on the possible motive for the fatal shooting.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003509571_webshooting04.html

[uppityperson]

5. So sad for both families.

[LisaM]

6. Where did he get the gun?

I'm tired of this. I want to know the whole history of where that gun came from. Start to finish. Gun show? Dad's gun?

[flamingyouth]

7. I heard on the news last night that it was stolen in a burglary in 1999.

But since he was 11 or so then, that doesn't really answer the question. And I agree, I'm tired of this too.

[pscot]

8. Apparently he got the gun

from an older brother's house. He had been in the habit of carrying a pellet pistol to school. One of those things that look like a .45 auto. This time he got hold of the real thing. It seems he may not be mentally competent.

[maxsolomon]

10. lawyers are saying schizophrenia

and, as usual with teen shootings, he was on meds.

[Pierzin]

9. It is really sad... WTF is wrong with this area???

We don't have tons of people like back east, yet we make national news for bad, bad crimes more than I would like to see ... jeeesh! I like to think of my state as being hip, groovy, home to grunge and a lively music and club scene, environmentally conscious and liberal and socially progressive, beautiful, majestic, awesome.
But i don't want our area known as a birthplace of serial killers, rapists, nut-jobs, and the like!!!! :-( :-( x(
And here another young person has ruined his future and changed the fate of two families by making a bad decision!:( Just aweful! and sad!