Shooting at Wilson after game...

I'm just glad I wasn't anywhere near 7th & Ximeno last night. Whew.

What the hell is wrong with people... Life is tough enough, now you gotta worry that someone will shoot you, just because the part of town your from or the color of your skin. God forbid you look at some the wrong way... THE WRONG WAY? What the hell does that mean? Someone please give me the rules of ingagement. I certianly don't want to look at someone the wrong way, wear the wrong clothing, or get caught in the wrong part of town. JEEZ! GOD HELP US.

What is happening to our society? We can't even allow our children to attend a school/function let alone their Homecoming football game without having something like this occur? Its to the point that we can not even let our kids do "what kids should be able to do" without a fight,shooting,being jumped or worse than that???What are people allowing/teaching their kids? Or what are they seeing, or following "as their role models in life"? It kills me knowing that my child has no chance in this life to be or act like a kid and enjoy kid things, no she has to always be on guard, looking over her shoulder always being scared for her life-never knowing if that person you just walked by that said HI to you is going to kill, rape, or follow you home, if that one person you trusted is going to hurt or cause you harm that will always haunt you-because you cant tell anyone, or just going to bed at night to wake up to someone kidnapping you out of your own house and bed? So this is our kids so called life-no this is hell....and I feel like my hands are tied and cant do anything about it. Just allowing a kid to go to their high school football homecoming and then going to pick them up and driving up to paramedics,fire department, and cops and then your not allowed to get your child due to lockdown? You have NO IDEA THAT FEELING!!!!You never in a minute think it would happen to you, until it does and then you really think.....I have talked to 20 parents tonight and home schooling is what we are all doing, if I can't feel that my child is safe at a school event, then I know she will be safer at home where she will be watched....so WILSON , so SORRY, that money you receive for each student, just stopped and will be spent on them idividually! Today at Wilson what was taught at the school Rally having Poly's Mascot fighting with Wilson's Bear? Yea that was something to put into your students heads..I have complained numerous times to the LB School Board regarding a few "teachers" touching students inapproprietly and nothing was done, just alot of nonsense phone calls-never taking matters seriously. So here is where us parents have to take charge and fight for our kids, at least I am, with other concerned parents.

I can't say the same!! I was within 20 feet of the shooting and saw the wilson student go to the ground!! How sad can a school be that they would come to a HIGH SCHOOL football game and and take another students life...
SAME ON YOU!! Poly is so competitive and took their angry out on us because they are no longer #1.

I heard one of the victims died. A girl, Melody Ross. Keep her and her family in your prayers.

Reports from the LBPD say that a crowd of 100 or so youths started gathering at 10th and Ximeno at 9:30, and then the police responded to a "shots fired" call at 10:00. When everyone was aware of the tensions at this game, WHY didn't the police do something to disperse the crowd when it formed at 9:30??? This is very tragic. The girl killed was a friend of our 16 year old daughter, who also attended the game and thank God got home safely.

"Who knows what evil lurks in the heart(?) of ... gang punks.? The Shadow knows?

OMFG I left at like 958, and I was on 10th and ximeno, i was so close to scene, yet i left right in the nick of time

I was at the corner of 7th and Ximeno when it happened, and I heard a bunch of people running and screaming "someone got shot!!!" A bunch of kids were running and got on the bus, it was soo scary. Later that night I saw the girl get loaded into the ambulance. And sadly, this morning I found out that the girl died in the hospital, my heart goes out to her family and to the victims and their families as well.

So sad and senseless. I also was in vicinity of shot fired at game. I had two students with me. On my own child. Many in crowd near shooting were well known to us. My daughter cried when she heard it was a Wilson student. Shame on Anonymous for blaming the incident on a Poly person because we are no longer #1. That's NOT what you should be thinking of right now.

I was at the game as I have always been for the last 30 or so years with all the "Old Jackrabbits" and we were talking about how the students had changed. That there were hardly any fights etc at the games. The only problems we saw were the "young black men " using the "N" word like it was no big deal.My prayers go out to the family of the young girl that lost her life.

I couldn't believe that this "S_ _ _" ever happened near Wilson High. Made me held my cat to my face and cried. I really felt sorry for that 16yo innocent girl victim got shot a killed. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family members.

This is so devastating. My daughter was there and actually helped to take care of one of the victims. She is devastated to know that one of her school mates and fellow athlete is no longer with us. How horrible it must be to send your child to a school sports function and it be the last time you see her (or him).
I understand there was another incident in the area but when there are going to be crowds of this size with rival schools, there should be at least some police presence at all times. A security guard, or two, is not going to cut it. There were over 3500 people there. I think it's silly how the entire police department has to show up at one single incident. Some of which are ridiculoulsy uneventful. And I fear we are now just going to have to use metal detectors at the games. There are no boundries.

I cant believe that this is happening. Why dont you pathetic losers from both Poly & Wilson just get a life. My kids will never go to the LBUSD middle or high schools. As long as the worthless parents and kids of long beach are around this place is a joke. You cant be safe at school. Its not the police its the dead beat worthless parents who need to be involved with there kids. They need to get off the drugs and be involved. So this is to the parents out there "ITS YOUR FAULT" you are responsible for your kids actions and you should all be shot just like that poor girl (RIP). And this is not about race its about self pride and responsibility. Lets hope the Oct 31 beatings dont happen again, Oh wait it was just in good fun not really a beating just a harmless tap. So once again the worthless parents of Long Beach its your fault.

First of all Poly should not be the school to blame. I am now a Senior at Poly and I have never witnessed a shooting or lock down let alone a fight. Poly is known for being a school affiliated with gangs. It's so not like that. Poly is the best school in Long Beach. We are known world wide for being scholars and champions. We are the original, Long Beach High School. We send most of the high school players to the NFL and we have a ton of famous alumni. We have always had good sportsmanship. It was Wilson's homecoming and the Poly student council made both balloon arches for the game. Wilson is always trying to start things. Just accept it. I am really proud of my school and I participate in all the school activities. Safety is never an issue. It is Wilson's job to notify the police. I'm planning the dance for Poly and one of the first things we do is call the police department to notify and have one in the area. Hopefully this was a learning experience and I agree with Michelle about the metal detectors. My condolenses go out to the victims families.

Wow! My family and I are still in shock and are saddened by the death of the innocent young 16 year old. Our son is a freshman and is one of the performers. Ten of our family members came out to support him and Wilson High School. He was 4 cars away from the shooting.
As he walked to our family car, where we all waited for him, he was asked to return to the building immediately and was not allowed to leave. He was in shock and disbelief. It saddens me that my child and all other children have to experience this insanity. It scares me as to how close he was to the shooting. I thank God he is ok and my heart and prayers go out to the Melody's family. We vow not to attend any more of Poly/Wilson games. It was just to rowdy, even in the stands. The kids have no respect for themselves much less for others.
They don't know how to say excuse me and every word out of their mouths is f this and N that. Very sad

All the little Jackrabbits and Bruins should be able to go to rivalry games and cheer for their team, boo their opponents, simply enjoy themselves, as children should...without the threat of violence. A few bad seeds should not ruin it for the rest of them. I for one will not let these cowards control my family. We need to take a stand! These are supposed to be the times of their lives. Such a senseless tradegy. My prayers and heartfelt sympathy to her family...and all of the victims of this horrific crime.

I am a freshman at Poly, and this is not the best introduction to my high-school life. One of my friends knew Melody Ross personally. She was only 16. If anyone is to blame, it is the gang, not the school. Gang violence---- hatred, that is what kills. Hatred is what killed Melody Ross---- even if she was not hated, it was because of hatred that she was killed. When someone shots into a crowd, they much hate someone or something. When there are people filled with hatred---- when guns are so easily accessed by the populace---- when people do not learn tolerance before it is too late---- that is when you get shootings. Innocent victims will die, families will suffer, and yet the hatred lives on. Why is that? I haven't been shot yet at Poly, and I don't believe I will be shot, but who knows. I could be shot anywhere else. This girl was just a little older than I am, and she did nothing wrong. She was beautiful and sweet---- from what I know. Why don't people come together as a community, drop their stupid gang loyalty and, together, we put an end to this madness. We hear about civilians---- nameless and faceless to us---- killed in the middle east, car bombers take out women in a woman's market place, people planting roadside bombs, explosives that look like toys to little children, and we never see their faces. It takes a death like this, right at home, with a face that looks almost familiar, friends that look so familiar, and a girl we swear we could have known; to tell us that the violence must end. It isn't just here; it's the world. We need to learn to grow up and work together people. Didn't we learn that in Pre-school? A kindergartner can learn to share and get along with other kindergartners, and here we are shooting, we are grown up.

Oh, and my school (Poly) was all excited about the game, they were selling tee-shirts and things. It all seemed so innocent, but I've never really gotten why we have this whole "school rivalry" thing going on---- and worse, encouraged by the staff. I thought it was dumb, when everyone was trying to bring the stupid rivalry back to life. "Maybe someone was just too enthusiastic about the game...?" that's unlikely! Poly won (if that even matters at this point, or if it ever mattered at all) and an innocent girl died. I think we should either come together and learn to get along fast, or we need to stop with the football games, and have a limit on how many students can be in a place at once. I am appalled. Wasn't a girl raped by a football crowd just the other day; a 15 year old? This is disgusting, America, this is disgusting, California. People, we need to fix this!

Steve, thank god your kids aren't coming to EITHER Poly or Wilson. We don't need kids stuck up on high horses, who only know how to point fingers without some semblance of logic or rational, at either of these fine schools. Better watch your mouth or we so-called ghetto, violent, reckless Poly kids will "tap" you up. YA HEARD?

Steve, I am appalled that you are blaming the parents and students of both Wilson and Poly for what happened last night. My son is a senior at Poly, has been there all 4 years of his high school career and have played football all 4 of those years. We have been to many football games and this is the first time that my family and I have witnessed anything of this caliber. I was there last night and witnessed kids from both schools trying to come to the aid of one of the young men who was injured. I'm sure your children (if you are man enough to create any) aren't that sheltered and live in a "crime free" neighborhood. If they are, they are in for a rude awakening when they get older! My prayers are with the family of Melody Ross, and the two young men who were also injured. As for you Steve - GET A LIFE!

As long as the court system is allowed to use our schools as a dumping ground for violent criminals, we will continue to see innocent students suffer. We tollerate gangs, and so they are allowed to terrorize our communities, our schools, and our children.

The staffs at our public schools are doing the best they can to keep events like this from happening. Have any of the parents in this forum asked why the laws pertaining to owning or using hand guns are still not receiving the same sort of criticism (considering how often these kinds of deaths occur daily in our world) as you seemingly are placing onto our public school employees? -Respectfully, A hard working high-school employee.

I am not sure Steve was to far off. I agree it’s not all the parents fault; it’s the responsible ones who have to pay for the few bad eggs. This response below is a perfect example of the people who make all the good people pay. I guess it’s OK to do this in some places but never thought it would come to the LBUSD.

By Carolyn Luong
"Steve, thank god your kids aren't coming to EITHER Poly or Wilson. Better watch your mouth or we so-called ghetto, violent, reckless Poly kids will "tap" you up. YA HEARD?"

I commend all the parents who are involved and teach you children the good values. As for the others who don't value anything I hope you see that education and becoming a responsible person one day will eventually pay off. I also want to comment that education is what the parents make of it and all schools can be fine schools, no matter where they are located. It just so happens that Poly is ranked 372 and Wilson is 529 in the state for high school education. There are many good people in Long Beach and I think we all need to take charge and fight off this type of behavior. I witnessed the beatings a few years back on Halloween and now that area is standing out and taking charge. A few of the people in the area were harassed by Gang Members for speaking out and the city caved and let the criminals off with a slap on the wrist. I think the whole city needs to stand up against this and not tolerate any gang violence. Let’s hope they catch them and the city doesn’t cave again.

for those who want to really make a difference, donations can be made on behalf of Melody Ross to the Long Beach Education Foundation - please...let's stay focused!!!

Reply? Steve is no where near close to any reality and you know it. He should keep his kids out of Poly and any public school because no one needs his bigotry and ignorance. Educate his kids at home because if they were to come to any public school and spout any of the rhetoric of their father they would only be looking for trouble. Many well educated students are no longer going to sit and accept ignorant comments and not lash out in frustration at the implications that are so easily tossed around by those who are obviously weak minded and do not know what they are talking about.

Regardless of budget cuts or better said DENIAL Wilson and LBUSD should have been more prepared to handle the crowd with real law enforcement not community workers/security. I have lived on both sides of town the westside and Los Altos and my kid still attends to Poly frankly because it is the best school in LB having one of the top academic programs in the country, despite where it is located. Parts of Long Beach are in significant denial about MANY issues including the fact that a bullet can kill anywhere even at a Wilson football game and then to insult the POLY community by assuming that the bullet came from the "other side of town" is pure stupidity and ignorance.

Wake up and focus on being compassionate and supportive of the family that has just lost a child.

shadowman,
i would first like to address steve for his comments on his parenting skills.
did this guy take his stupid,dumb and ignorant pills today. his first mistake was to further the hate that goes on today from his perch above thus allowing his kids to probably follow what hate this person has for humanity.
instead of trying to exhaust all of the negative energy he has why doesn't he become part of the solution instead of the problem.
i sent you a note on your other site but i wanted to share these thoughts from earlier today.
this goes to show the pure coward in these so called "gangstas".
why don't they as Chris Tucker would say " STAND UP AND FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN".
Why? The reason being they would probably get their little punk asses kicked!
How tough are you now?
There are people who know who did this, they should let the police know. "IT ISN'T SNITCHING ITS JUSTICE"
WHAT THEY DID WAS PURE PER-MEDITATED MURDER AND SHOULD BE PROSECUTED AS SUCH.

WHAT IF IT WAS YOUR MOTHER!

We all have some belief in religion and what is just and true to ones self.

The number one thing that all of us believe is "WHAT WOULD JESUS DO"?