LBPOST.com: Wilson Student Killed Outside School In Shooting

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Wilson Student Killed Outside School In Shooting

by Ryan ZumMallen | Long Beach News | 10.31.09 |

| Text Size:

The Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) has released a statement regarding the death of 16-year old Melody Ross, an honor student and pole vaulter at Wilson High who was an innocent bystander in a large crowd that gathered outside of the school following the football game between Wilson and Poly. Ross was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Two others were injured, males aged 18 and 20 who police say were students of neither school. Gunfire erupted as a large crowd gathered at the Ximeno exit to the football field, where a fight broke out and witnesses reported hearing four shots and seeing Ross being tended to on the ground. Our deepest sympathies to the Ross family.

Following is the statement from the LBUSD:

Victim in Fatal Shooting Was Wilson High Student

"The 16-year-old girl who died last night after a shooting outside Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach was an eleventh grade student and athlete at the school. The victim, Melody Ross, was well-liked by her peers. She was enrolled in Advanced Placement honors courses and was a member of the track team.

The Long Beach Unified School District extends its deepest sympathies to Melody�s family, friends and teachers.

According to police, at about 9:30 p.m. last night a football game at Wilson High had just ended, and a group of several hundred people were congregating in the area of Ximeno Avenue and 10th Street. At about 10 p.m., Long Beach police officers responded to a shooting that had just occurred in the area of 10th Street and Ximeno Avenue.

When officers arrived they found that three victims had been shot. An 18-year-old man and a 20-year-old man sustained non-life threatening injuries. All three victims were transported to the hospital where Melody succumbed to her injuries.

Because the police investigation is ongoing, the school district is directing media to police regarding further details about this crime.

The school on Monday will provide counselors in each of the classes that Melody enrolled in. Counselors and psychologists also will be available throughout the day in the school�s career center for any student who needs to talk about the incident.

Because the highly anticipated Wilson vs. Polytechnic High School football game was sold out, the school district provided extra security at Wilson on Friday evening, including three school safety officers from LBUSD School Safety, along with 19 campus security officers drawn from various other schools in the district, as well as 10 administrators and 15 teachers and other employees to provide additional adult supervision. The incident did not occur on campus but just outside the school.

The school district will provide additional security at Wilson on Monday."

Follow the LBPOST.com on our�Facebook�and�Twitter�pages.
�
Related Coverage:

Search For Wilson High Shooter Continues
Friday Night Shootings: One At Wilson High, One Officer-Involved�

Comments

Click Here to Join the Discussion on this Story

48 Comments so far.

Leslie
Far too many children are getting killed by gang members bullets in Long Beach. This is not a safe city. This city needs to make breaking up gangs and arresting gang members it's #1 top priority.

JeffJ
And Wilson is not a safe school....can anyone say "private school"

Belmont Shore Residents
We agree. We love Lo ng Beach and living by the shore, but are definitely moving before we start a family.

Pigeon
Deepest sympathy to Melody Ross' friends and family. We must do something to stop this kind of awful thing.

beth barnes
I am a 1975 graduate, I have a daughter who is a 2007 grad and thank god my youngest daughter is graduating this year. This is unforgiveable at ANY school. it should not have happened.

LB MOM
I am so sad about this even with no connections to this family or school. Thank you LBPOST for your updates.

Carol
Gangbangers own Long Beach. There never seems to be a move to do anything about it!! LBUSD made the decision to keep management and abolish campus security jobs, in this city that was not a wise decision. My sincere condolences to the Ross family.

olde sault
You leave, they win.

Sadly, not surprised
This is exactly why my daughter is not in the public school system anymore. And why my parents were so hesitant to let me go to Wilson...because you had to play at schools in not so great neighborhoods like Poly and Jordan.

Long Beach resident
I feel sad for the loss of life. What a terrible waste of a young life. I don't think the City is unsafe though. Every place has moments of danger. I am not sure what the answer is. It's not just gang members who own guns and are allowed to buy ammo. Look at Columbine for example. They were not gang members. Just dysfunctional human beings.

Bill Orton
I drove down Ximeno from PCH to pick up my daughter, who had left with several friends before the game had ended. Must've been maybe 9:30. Ximeno was absolutely packed with hundreds of kids and parents coming out from the game. How absolutely heartbreaking to know that minutes after, a shooting occurs. I am so sorry to hear about the death of Miss Ross. I wish her parents and family strength to bear themselves through this horrible tragedy.

Not Wilson's fault...
Yes, this happened outside Wilson and a Wilson student died, but this may have had nothing to do with the school itself. As best anyone knows at this point was that it was a drive by shooting and the girl as killed at random. I feel horrible for Melody and her family, but I don't see how you can blame Wilson or Long Beach Unified.

Paul
'because you had to play at schools in not so great neighborhoods like Poly and Jordan,' said Sadly, But Not Surprised. Ever think why this is in a Beach town that can be what ever it wants to be? Hint. Look at who is on our Council.

Coach
It was not a drive-by. These guys were on foot. I was getting in my car across the street and heard the shots. I started to go back, but got in my car because I knew I'd be stuck there forever. Selfish, I know, but, of course, it turns out that I couldn't have done a thing once those few shots were fired. Wilson never wanted the rep they got from various past incidents and the movie "Freedom Writers". It doesn't seem that anyone associated with the school could have done much more about preventing this incident. There was a LBUSD security officer 100 feet away, and he RAN to the scene immediately. I wish people would be unselfish and willing to give up their "Constitutional" right to bear arms, almost 240 years after that right actually meant anything.

JR Salazar
Rest in peace, Melody Ross.

scud
The school could ask *every* student to send *any* picture they took before, at, and after the game. The shooter may well be in one of them and detectives would be willing to look at everyone for the chance to connect the dots. Anything may help. An email address can easily be set up for students to send pictures to. That's where I would start. Pictures don't rely on memory or need to be interviewed I hope the shooter (and any accomplice) is caught and sent to rot in jail.

Henry
The loss of a young person's life is tragic. That Ms Ross was a bright and accomplished student with such promise profoundly deepens the tragedy. The school district's statement in regard to their security is ridiculous. The fact that the shooting was not exactly on the campus is absolutely irrelevant. There should have been a police presence and hundreds of students and young people should not have been milling about with no police to direct the exit and make sure that people left in an orderly fashion. The death of Melody Ross cannot be undone; but the city of Long Beach should seriously figure out how to prevent any such incident happening in the future. There should be a task force formed and ways studied to control the violence in the city of Long Beach. Such a task force should have strong leaders from within the city and outside the city. This cannot continue to happen in this city--or any other.

scud
Agreed Henry. Yours are direct and good thoughts. It would be a much more unifying and human position for the district to say that any violence at or around schools can no longer be tolerated. This is not a time to draw lines in the concrete but rather a time to see if Ms Ross' spirit can lead to positive change. Are you in a position to join or co-lead a task force or, if not, are you willing to write to city council people or others to possibly get something started?

dickheaD
Whoever wrote the Post's headline to this story needs sensitivity training. This is not a time to get cute with a word play. Fright? This wasn't a show at Knot's Berry Farm. This was real. A beautiful young girl had her life taken in a flash by the senseless, selfish act of some pistol-packing punk who will rot in hell for the murder he has committed. I don't care if his kind of scum kill each other. They want to live by the gun let them die by the gun. But to murder a girl who had a life of achievement ahead of her, who had nothing to do with their dead-end gansta life, that is an outrage. He hasn't only killed one innocent girl, he has taken the life of every student at Wilson. The Post's headline should speak to the outrage we as a community feel over this shameful murder committed within our most valued institution, the school. I hope the killer gets what is coming to him.

Paul
To Coach. Just because of the type of thug that did this terrible act, and that same thug will riot or loot if there is a disaster, earthquake, sunami, assination, etc, is why every household in Long Beach needs to be armed. The cops were not there for that young lady, and they were not here duing the rioting. May her death teach us that our town is not safe. May her passing give us thoughts and action to stop the criminal element that is thriving in Long Beach. May our officals be replaced with those who can act, rather than us listening to their mourning and outrage talk, but no action. This has happened too many times in this town.

concerned parent
This is so sad and devastating. Deepest sympathy to the Ross family and friends. My kids graduated LBUSD -2006 & 2009. During their years in school, there was a lot of shooting and violence inside and outside of campus that you don't hear much about in the news. I'm glad they finally come out with this in the paper because this has been going on for the past 10 years and it's getting out of hand.

LB SUCKs
This town is getting worse. I will not let my cahild atttend Wilson. This town is the worst"Beach" town in california. it is actually the arm pit if So. Cal. The city has screwed this place up. You can trace it back to the 1980's with the bad zoning that allowed the removale of single family homes, only to be replaced by 4 to 12 unit condos. Yeah, that was a great idea, cram in more people. This city is a just a poor, working class, dump....this is just one more example of a failed city on the verge of ruin.

Judy Griffith
I am so sorry. My heart goes out to the family, And this little girl who did not deserve to be killed by these losers, who have nothing to do in there lives. But to hurt others. They should all be put away. And there parents are no better, if they don't care about there kids. My prayers are with the parents and family. And this students. You were your parents little angel. I am also sadden about Holloween. These people has also taken the spirit of Holloween away from the kids. I usually have hundrends and hundrends of kids. I put up decorations and try to make it a fun thing for them. Last night, I had maybe 25-30 children. And everyone on my block had there lights turn off. What ever happen to Holloween ? Judy Griffith

Concerned Parent
1. LBSUD is attempting to say it did not happen on campus but it did! UNTRUE! Property liability laws state the area in front of a structure to the street is part of the property line. 2. State Law requires that students be given a safe environment and are "legally responsible" for a student's safe return to their home after a school activity. 3. The State of Vermont is considering charging a $500 annual fee to those who don't own firearms and want to help protect themselves and others. (Let that thought settle in for a moment? The cowardly assassin Friday night would have been committing suicide if he knew everyone he shot at would be armed!) America, it is time to quit letting thugs on the streets of Long Beach or in the halls of Washington DC take away your rights of self determination and protection. A shameful crime happened Friday night and a wonderful life was taken. Let's pray for the family and their unbearable grief.

Antonio Ruiz
This is not a time for rash judgments about not enough security or offering solutions like arming everyone. This is a time for investigation to make sure we have all the facts, for evaluation to ensure that we can prevent something like this again and for a citywide reflection to see why this happened one more time. One killing of a young person on our streets is one too many times and we must all learn to condemn it every time; wherever it occurs. We must also support the efforts of the countless numbers of organizations, institutions and individuals who every day are dedicated to saving one more life from this tragedy. They work countless hours through the arts, sports and academics to give a child a reason to live and succeed. To not join a gang and sometimes, when you are lucky, to walk away from a gang. These will not be headlines in the LA Times or the New York Times or on Channels 2-13. That is not sexy enough. If it bleeds, it leads. We must support those who work everyday to save another life so that we do not need to ever have this conversation again. My heart goes out to the family and friends of Melody Ross.

Muffin
My husband's an '84 grad of Wilson and we would have taken our kids to the game except my son had his own game with Friday Night Lights. I can only imagine what that young girl's parents must be going through. Your daughter goes to a high school homecoming game and this is what happens? I moved to LB in 1986 to attend Long Beach State and we would go to fraternity parties down on Atlantic and 7th as well as 10th and Atlantic. Those areas have gotten so much worse in the past 20 years. There are certain parts of LB I don't even want to drive through - but I still love this city and living in Belmont Shore.

Wilson Student
While the tears run down my face this tragedy is surreal. I saw Melody on Friday during our homecoming fair. She always has a huge smile on her face. We weren't close but i did know her. I walk by her many times throughout the days. She gave off such a warm embrace, and she will always be remembered, and never forgotten. I didnt know the goodbyes i said to all my friends would be the last to her. I left the game early because I was getting annoyed with the score, i walked past her on the way to get picked up from my dad. Way to many people crowded the sidewalk. I did not see any security by that area. To the people who left comments about how awful Long Beach is, how dare you. This is my home, this is a home to many people. I take the city bus and walk many blocks everyday to get home. I love long beach, i dont love the fact that there are days when we dont feel safe. School is somewhere were you feel very safe, but i guess not anymore. But the time putting down on how terrible this city is and how Wilson is a bad school, is the time that you could be helping it become safer. Its awful that this tragedy has to happen in order for the school district to realize that we need more safety at schools. And to change so many things. My mom died unexpectedly last year, so loosing someone randomly is not new to me, unfortunately. But getting killed by gunshot is beyond my words. My friends and i are terrified to walk near the deathly scene at school, but its an area were she had her last breath her last laugh, that will be cherished in our hearts. My deepest love goes to her beautiful family. Just know Wilson will always be that shoulder for you to lean on.

Deeply Concerned
First my deepest sympathies go out to the parents of Miss Ross. It sounds like they had raised a wonderful girl who will be missed by many. My son was at the game and it horrifies me to think of this senseless violence having occurred at what should be a safe traditional activity for youth. My concern is that incidents like this only serve to escalate an already escalated racial war that exist in our city. I hope that the schools willl take heed of this and implement programs eliminate this racial divide. Otherwise there is not a chance of the violence stopping.

Artie
This horrible tragedy is a wake up call to our elected city officials. Gang violence is spreading to all parts of Long Beach. There must be a concerted effort to address this problem which is destroying our city. I've been a resident for over 50 years and a Wilson graduate and what happened to that young girl is outrageous. I hope the punk thugs who committed this crime are quickly brought to justice. And to writer who said, "I wish people would be unselfish and willing to give up their "Constitutional" right to bear arms..." Certainly you must know that disarming law abiding citizens would do nothing o take the guns out of criminals' hands. In fact, they'ed have a field day knowing no one could protect themselves.

I heart LB
parents - teach your children well

Jen
You leave - they win - AGAIN - what kind of message do we send to our youth? Run like we did something wrong? Let the "wrong" prevail AGAIN?? Shame on us . . .

belmont shore resident
Who ever thinks Long Beach is an unsafe and unfit place to live is completely naive. Regardless of where you live there is always danger present. Like any other city there are good and bad areas. Whoever wants to believe the false messages given off about Wilson is hopeless. Why don't you take a second look at the academic programs at Wilson that send just as many students into top universities nation-wide as a private school. Have fun raising your kids in a secluded environment, hiding them from all the realities of life. And as for the gang problem, law enforcement is extremely strong in Long Beach and they are doing all they can. Sorry they weren't able to read the minds of the thousands of kids attending the game and weren't able to stop time and prevent the shooting. Maybe acquiring those skills should be their top priority. Once again. Naive.

teacher2
To all the idiots who wrote to LBPOST.com about how terrible our school district and city is: Thanks for the slap in the face to all of us who teach, work, and live here. Also I bet the family of the young lady who passed away really appreciates your selfish, ignorant, and racist banter. This is a time to be proactive, instead of your BS rants about how great private school is, and how we all need to get the hell out of here. Every day I wake up (along with thousands of others) and dedicate my day to building in to our kids. If that is how you all feel, move to Orange County or the Mid-west. The sad thing is when some student is shot there, you write some other self absorbed rant about ho terrible things are. I would like to send my deepest sympathy and regrets to Melody's family.

lb poly alumni
being a poly alumni and borned and raised in long beach all of MY LIFE. Please read: I am so sorry for her family and friends. I tried to picture this happening to myself, a friend, a family and I end up having tears. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. but of course every city has its own bad area. Yes, long beach does have a higher incidence, but you do not know what can happen in mission viejo tomm? next week? my point: PUBLIC vs private school bs should not mention at all. THERE IS NOT POINT NO VALID ARGUMENT. lets do it if u want to talk about public vs private... compare ur stats with lb poly...sports? compare that...academic? compare that to lb poly and the ap passing rate and THE MOST STUDENT WHO GOT INTO UCLA IN 2002 then any other HS in the nation. COMPARE THAT WITH SUMMER ARANO CLASS OF 2005 PERFECT SAT AND ACT SCORE (1600, and 36)...OHH YEA FFREEE OF CHARGE. thanks to all the teachers at LBUSD. enough said.

Mother of 3
I was at the game with my my two kids and escorted one to the dance that they were going to have that night. We were fortunate enough to have left 3 mins when the shooting happened. It is shameless for those who put down public schools and the areas that they are located at...look around...violence is everywhere..it doesnt discriminate color, race, age, gender, community, city..should I say more....its everywhere...and if we live behind closed doors and do not get involve, it will continue...so instead of put downs and throwing the blame somewhere else and washing your hands from the situation...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT...so kids like Melody Ross lifes wont be cut short!!!!!!

Sherrif in LB
We need the LA Sherrifs Department in Long Beach. DUMP LBPD, they Suck!

real, not naive
Wilson has lots of problems so let's not pretend otherwise. There are drugs and weapons on campus every day. If positive changes can be made that would be great. Many kids are scared every day on campus - try being small and using the bathrooms on campus. 4500 kids is too many to cram onto the campus, the quad is packed, kids get shoved around all day and nothing is done about it. I'd like to think things will get better but it doesn't look that way. It is too expensive to wake society up and put real solutions in place. Ask students what their daily reality is like before you post your beliefs or call people naive.

"LB SUCKs" should leave
Honestly, the sadness and horrific tragedy of this senseless act is not a platform for any individual to voice their pathetic, disgruntled rant about city zoning! The racist and classist statements of this individual are shameful and do nothing to honor the memory of the hard-working victim. Instead, we should be looking at the positive things that Miss Ross was a part of, and that so many of her fellow students are working towards, and find a way to help the youth (future) of our city. Rather than complaining, let's work towards a solution and not let this young lady die in vain.

Jack
The next night, Saturday, I went to the Halloween Party on Pine. There were a lot of police there - but they were standing around in groups of 4 or 5 instead of patrolling the street/area for potential problems. THis is part of the problem we have in this city

Bill Lenner
Just arresting people is part of the problem in the entire LA area. Thinking that's going to work is simple racism. Cities in the area need to promote more programs that help former problem gang members get good jobs like that run by Fr Greg Boyle in Los Angeles. Instead William Bratton in LA chose to criminalize friendship in minority areas and got even more youth on the early train to unemployability. Our prisons are bursting. Our state is going broke and we are releasing truly dangerous criminals as a result. Long Beach needs to make sure that Bratton-like programs are ditched and Doyle-like programs put in their place in our city. Or these problems are just going to get worse.

id
A lot of talk about racism on this thread even though no information about the shooter is known. Are you all assuming the shooter is a certain race? Sounds a little biased in the thinking to me.

KaRi
She bled to death. Maybe schools should show a safety clip each morning similar to what the airlines show after take off. "How to make a tourniquet." I would be willing to work with "Public Safety" on this issue via LBCTMC. Sympathy to Melody Ross's family, friends, classmates. PLEASE SEE a counselor! Coach, I think (wish)like you re: gun controls but as long as there are people with no conscience, noone is 100% absolutely safe. Remember, about 25 years ago the main stream news reported 8-9 year old surfacing without conscience. Those kids are now parents of teenagers. Bless us all!

Happy in LB
First, my heart and prayers go out to Melody's family. Such a tragic loss. To all of you who think LB is such a horrible, terrifying place to live, then please go somewhere else. We don't need your negativity. My family has lived here for 80+ years, we all attended Wilson AND Poly and I do not feel scared or unsafe. Just leave if you feel so threatened.

momof2catchers
This is so very hard on so many levels. I love Long Beach and am so sad when something like this darkens our beautiful city. My prayers are with all the parents of Wilson (and all LBUSD) students...it is so very hard as a parent when you lose your sense of security with regards to your children and where they are when not with you. I pray for the administration of Wilson High School...that HE may guide them with HIS wisdom and help them to lead their student body (and parents) through this with strengh and compassion.

Lbcalgal
First & foremost, my deepest sympathies to the Ross Family & Wilson students & staff...To "Wilson Student" I commend you on your eloquent statement & I am proud you are a Wilson student! Be strong..... As a parent who suffered the loss of my own step-son to the exact same act of violence, I BEG the LB PD to help us....I live 2 blocks away from the school & I ran to the school the minute I heard the commotion, only to find shear chaos & panic...Kids and adults running down 10th St & Ximeno screaming in fear running for their lives...Unbelievably scary.. And Lastly, I want to "Thank" the Wilson staff & security who literally scooped up our kids and secured them in the gym for safety, quick actions we all must appreciate. I am proud my last child attends Wilson & I will do whatever it takes to HELP make our community & neighborhood safer by my actions, not thoughtless complaints.

LONG BEACH BORN AND RAISE
First and foremost I would like to say my condolences for the family of the young lady. I graduated from Poly in 2006 I am shocked at how most of these football games are ending with violence and now a young life was lost. When does the violence end is a question we've asked for way too long. The question that I'm constantly asking now is "WILL THE VIOLENCE EVER END?" I sure hope it does because this is something that could have been prevented and nothing ever should ever escalate so far, it's just unforgiveable for any school to have to mourn the life of any student.

Jackie
i have lived in long beach all my life and have seen the good and bad things about it.But i dislike the fact that people think Long Beach is such a bad place and really it is not. I live in the west side of Long Beach near Stephens Middle School and many people make bad comments about this area,which I think is not all true I feel as if its it's own community within Long Beach. Walking around the streets you recognize all the faces surrounding you its actually really nice and I love it hear. Having friends from Wilson i was scared and frighten that it might have been my friends that day I was going to go their football game but since I attend Millikan High School and am also a junior as Melody was I decided to come home instead.I am sure glad I made that decision.Excuse for my ongoing talk about Long Beach I really want to wish the best to Melody's family and they are in my prayers. I hope the memmory of Melody would be with them forever and that she will never be forgotten.

lakewood student
I strongly disagree with Jeff J. It's not that Wilson isn't a safe school, I mean, it could have happened anywhere, anytime, and especially to anyone. I don't think that the shooters pick a school just for the fun of it. I think that the only reason the student and the two adults where shot was because it was a big crowd and it could have shot anyone. Those shooters could have been at a differen school and still could have shot someone without intention of killing them. It's just my opinion in how i see things. An metal detector's. i mean some o they culd do better than that. These gang bangers could think and leave it in their car for after the game of they could have hidden it in a bush. These gang bangers aren't happy i they are without a gun and we all know that. Metal detector's are just a way to say that tey are actually doing something about it and we all know that they aren't.

Long Beach News

LBPOST.com Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen keeps up on all the current and breaking Long Beach news.

Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.

Ryan's Community