Teacher Held in Shooting of Her Ex-Housemate

A high school teacher has been charged with attempted murder in using the gun in her former housemate’s Glendora home last week to shoot that woman, who may be permanently paralyzed.

Janet Ruth Greene, 51, a physical education teacher and former teacher of the year at Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton, entered the Glendora home she used to share with Loretta Coller, 62, a retired teacher, Wednesday night and shot her in the upper chest, severing her spinal cord and possibly leaving her permanently paralyzed, Glendora Police Sgt. Tim Pfeiffer said. Greene also reportedly shot Coller’s current companion, Martha Pereida, 49, of Alhambra, in the leg.

Coller was first listed in serious but stable condition at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. The hospital is not releasing further details but doctors initially told police she may be paralyzed. Pereida was treated and released at Foothill Presbyterian Hospital.

Greene is being held in lieu of $300,000 bail and her arraignment, scheduled for last Friday, was continued to June 13. She is charged with two counts of attempted murder.

According to court records, Greene called Coller several times last Wednesday, saying she had had a bad day. About 7 p.m., Greene called Coller again and asked if Pereida was there. Upon learning that she was, Greene then allegedly threatened to kill the two women.

Sometime between 8:15 and 8:30 p.m., Greene arrived at Coller’s home at 2130 E. Canterbury Lane. She jumped the fence and entered the home through an unsecured glass door in the den, Pfeiffer said. She armed herself with a .38-caliber revolver that Coller kept in the bedroom, police said. Greene allegedly fired a shot into a couch. Pereida then charged Greene and the gun went off three more times--hitting Coller, Pereida and the ceiling.

Pereida called the police. When they arrived, they found Greene administering first aid to Coller. Greene told police that the gun had gone off accidentally.

She later told officers that she went to Coller’s home to persuade her to resume their relationship and to discuss financial matters.

Records indicate that Greene’s blood alcohol level was measured at .14. She is on paid administrative leave.

Greene and Coller lived together for seven years in the home near the Glendora Country Club.