Dorsey Students Bemoan Killing of 2 Classmates

By all accounts, they were outgoing, friendly students. One was set to graduate today and planned to attend college. The other was a junior who had yet to commit himself to his studies but was filled with potential.

But the two Dorsey High School students’ lives ended in a hail of gunfire Friday, apparently innocent victims caught in a bloody street war between black and Latino gangs in Venice. Their slayings have shocked students and teachers at the Crenshaw district school and caused them to question why two young lives so full of promise could end so tragically.

Jose Tizcareno, 17, of Venice, and 18-year-old Jose Alvarez, of the Mid-Wilshire area, died at the scene, police said. Two other Dorsey students--Rafael Campoy, 17, and Javier Lopez, 18--suffered minor gunshot wounds.

“They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Los Angeles Police Detective Wayne Blandon said of the youths, who were in Venice to buy a pager during a school break when several gunmen opened fire. “They were caught like fish out of water.”

As of Tuesday, no arrests had been made in the case.

Although the shootings were widely reported over the weekend, not all Dorsey High students were aware as they returned to school Monday of the deaths of Tizcareno and Alvarez. Early that day, the news was announced over the school’s public address system, and many students broke out in tears.

“You just can’t believe it. You keep thinking they are still alive,” said junior Maurice Guifarro, 16, a friend of Alvarez. “It’s really sad. They didn’t have to die.”

Guifarro said his class went silent when the news was broadcast. One girl began sobbing and hugged Guifarro for comfort.

“Some people were so upset that they had a hard time taking finals,” said a 17-year-old student who asked not to be identified. “We have a good school, and this kind of stuff doesn’t happen here.”

Though violence has scarred other central Los Angeles high schools in recent months, Dorsey officials said this was the first shooting incident this year involving Dorsey students.

On Wednesday, the school held a memorial service at its library, where students read poetry they had written about their slain and wounded friends. That service was closed to all but Dorsey students and employees.

Tizcareno had bought his graduation cap and gown and was set to attend commencement services today. He planned to work full time during the day and enroll in night classes at Los Angeles City College. “This was a kid who was on his way. . . . He was very reliable, dependable and set to make a contribution to society,” said Assistant Principal Beverly Clarkson.

Several days before he died, Tizcareno had graduated from a learning academy sponsored by Shell Oil Co. The program places students in jobs and provides personal-skills training to prepare them for careers.

Tizcareno, who was placed at the Continental Cablevision offices in Crenshaw, did such a good job that the studio offered him a permanent job.

“He was one of our best students,” said Shell spokesman Robert Russ.

He said Shell is paying the $3,500 cost of Tizcareno’s funeral, which the family was unable to afford. Family members were unavailable for comment.

Clarkson said Alvarez was not as studious as Tizcareno but had a lot of potential. “He was personable and well-liked. He just hadn’t made the commitment (to school),” she said.

“He used to get along with people pretty good,” said Guifarro, who played touch football with Alvarez. Alvarez’s family also was not available for comment.

Students and officials say the killings have cast a pall over what would normally have been a joyous time--graduation and summer vacation.