Janitor Kills Principal of Northern California School
- Posted on February 2, 2011 at 5:38pm by
Meredith Jessup
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PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP) – A school janitor was arrested Wednesday in the killing of a Northern California elementary school principal who was hailed as a role model for other educators.
No children were hurt in the late-morning shooting in the office at Louisiana Schnell Elementary School in Placerville, but one student may have witnessed the shooting, Police Chief George Nielson said.
Principal Sam LaCara, 50, died in the attack, Nielson said.
Authorities said they arrested janitor John Luebbers, 44, at his home about an hour after launching a manhunt. Investigators were trying to determine a motive for the shooting about 50 miles east of Sacramento.
LaCara, who died at Marshall Medical Center, was called a dedicated leader by Bob Wells, executive director of the Association of California School Administrators.
“Sam has been a role model to school leaders for his dedication to students and to public schools,” Wells said. LaCara had served as a treasurer of the group.
Nielson was asked by reporters if Luebbers had been laid off. The chief said that possibility was part of the investigation, but he was uncertain about Luebbers’ employment status.
“There may have been some kind of dispute between the principal and the custodian,” Nielson said.
Police do not believe the janitor had a criminal history.
Nielson said LaCara’s family was devastated. “They are requesting privacy at this time,” he said.
Chaplain Jim Thompson met with the family at the hospital after being sent by law enforcement officers.
“They’re very, very angry at the perpetrator, who they happen to know, (he) knew the principal very well,” Thompson told KCRA-TV.
KCRA reported that LaCara, of Sacramento, was married and has three daughters.
California Highway Patrol Lt. Chuck King said LaCara’s wife was driving on Highway 50 to the hospital after hearing about the shooting when she was pulled over by a CHP officer for speeding. Instead of being ticketed, she was escorted to the hospital.
The state’s superintendent of public instruction, Tom Torlakson, thanked police and school officials for quickly securing the campus in the wake of the shooting. Classes were canceled at all district schools Thursday.
“Our schools should be safe havens from guns and violence, and I‘m deeply saddened when harm comes to anyone working to educate California’s children,” Torlakson said.
Police also commended the school staff for quickly locking down the school and protecting the children. Students were taken to the county fairground, where they were released to their parents.
“The children were safe in this incident. The principal was the target in this, unfortunately,” Nielson said.
A candlelight vigil for LaCara was planned Wednesday night outside a Placerville church.
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steve5150
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 5:18pmIf only Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin were silenced this would have never happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Mike204
Posted on February 4, 2011 at 12:52pmIt takes an especially weak character and a twisted mind to use someone else’s tragedy to project personal hatred.
Report Post »entropy
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 10:10amHmm, no picture of the perp. He must be a member of a “protected class”. We’ll see. If it was a white guy, his picture would be shown. Just guessing though.
Report Post »xm-1774u
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 8:59ami wont be a target. i carry everywhere
Report Post »catndahat
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 8:45amLunar is right–it’s a no-brainer for any nut with a gun to walk into a school and start shooting. This janitor knew no one there would be able to defend themselves because no one else was armed. Maybe everyone should wear vests…
Report Post »George40
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 7:58amcondolances to the family!
Report Post »There are a lot of unanswered questions here.
An increase in violence at schools seem to be a trend.
Could it be from problems in the education system?
George40
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 7:55amMy condolances to the family!
Report Post »There are a lot of unanswered questions.
With all the shooting at schools, could there be a problem with the education system that would be the cause for the increase violence?
Lunar
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 4:54am“Our schools should be safe havens from guns and violence, and I‘m deeply saddened when harm comes to anyone working to educate California’s children,” Torlakson said.
UH NO! time and again we have seen how all schools are seen as is a shooting gallery. There neither free from guns NOR violence. This will end when people take there heads out of there asses and realize restoring the age where teachers are respected will only happen by arming them.
This guy knew the principal so well it’s likely he might not have ever done this if he knew his target was armed.
Report Post »SuttonShimai
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:06am“Our schools should be safe havens from guns and violence”
Our schools should be safe havens from violence. Guns are one of many ways to secure that safety.
Report Post »ninetoesjudd
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:47amYou beat me to it. My first reaction is that this story could not be true, because schools are gun-free zones.
Report Post »michael79
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 11:26amDidn’t the janitor see the “Gun Free Zone” sign on the door?
Report Post »Ironfist
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 3:30amWhat the heck is wrong with people? Use to settle things with a fist fight and call it a day. Now more and more people are pulling triggers. No respect for human life is another effect from the moral decay of this country.
Report Post »tobefreeinmt
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 3:23amWhy??? What’s missing here, beside an explanation? More senseless slaughter. RIP.
Report Post »hud
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 8:43amIt was the principle of the thing.
Report Post »LDSmommy
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 3:00amVery sad. Placerville is such a quiet town. Great people. I hope they recover well.
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