In a California courtroom, a school safety officer admits guilt to the accusation of voluntary manslaughter, implicated in a deadly shooting of an 18-year-old.
Eddie Gonzalez is set to receive his sentence on October 8, potentially facing a jail term of between three to six years, according to Pamela J. Johnson from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, speaking to CNN.
The trial for Gonzalez's murder charge came to a halt four months prior, as the jury failed to reach a consensus.
On September 27, 2021, while on duty near Millikan High School in Long Beach, Gonzalez, a school safety officer, witnessed a brawl between Manuela Rodriguez, 18, and a 15-year-old girl, as per police reports. Upon Rodriguez and her companions attempting to leave in a nearby vehicle, Gonzalez allegedly discharged his gun at the vehicle, hitting Rodriguez in the front passenger seat, authorities said.
Rodriguez was hospitalized, eventually succumbing to her injuries a week later, as per the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. She left behind a 5-month-old son.
Gonzalez was swiftly terminated for violating the district's use-of-force policy, which ideally advises against shooting at fleeing individuals, vehicles in motion, or through vehicle windows, unless there's an imminent threat, the policy states. He was charged with murder shortly after the incident.
George Gascon, the District Attorney, commented, "We must penalize those we entrust to safeguard us, especially those responsible for protecting our children at schools."
In the aftermath, Rodriguez's family secured a $13 million settlement with the Long Beach Unified School District in their civil suit. The school district defended the agreement by stating it did not equate to an admission of liability.
At an earlier juncture, seven jurors sought to convict Gonzalez of murder, while five opted for a conviction on voluntary manslaughter charges, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office shared with CNN.
CNN reached out to Gonzalez's legal representative for comment.
The controversy surrounding Gonzalez's case coincides with a public discourse in US school districts regarding the necessity of armed officers in schools. Some believe instructors provide an additional layer of security against gun violence, while others express concerns over police misconduct and the school-to-prison pipeline's acceleration.
In an attempt to mitigate school shootings in California, a legislation proposed earlier in the year aimed to mandate K-12 schools across the state to have at least one armed officer on duty. While current California law permits school districts to decide whether to employ or rent armed officers or unarmed security personnel, California law does not explicitly authorize uniformed guards.
Conversely, some groups have driven local campaigns in California school districts to withdraw school law enforcement units, claiming they disproportionately target Black and Latino students.
The American Civil Liberties Union of California published a report in 2021 cautioning that increasing police presence in public schools could negatively impact students. The study revealed that Latino students were arrested 6.9 times more frequently, and Black students 7.4 times more frequently, in schools with assigned law enforcement, compared to schools without. Further, the two demographics were shown to be more susceptible to referrals to law enforcement.
As per a report published by the National Center for Education Statistics in July 2024, approximately 45% of US public schools reported the presence of sworn law enforcement officers who regularly carried firearms.
The decision regarding Eddie Gonzalez's sentence, which could potentially lead to his incarceration for three to six years, will be announced on October 8. During the discourse in US school districts regarding the necessity of armed officers, some advocate for their role in providing additional security against gun violence, while others express concerns about police misconduct and the school-to-prison pipeline.
