Wounded Teacher Moved From ICU

Despite contacting pneumonia, wounded schoolteacher Alfredo Perez has continued to improve and was transferred out of intensive care Friday, said physicians at Martin Luther King/Drew Medical Center.

“He’s doing better,” said his wife, Virginia, who has lived at the hospital since Feb. 22 when her husband was struck in the brain by a stray bullet fired by an alleged gang member. At the time, Perez was with his fifth-grade class in the library of Figueroa Elementary School.

Virginia Perez, also a teacher, said she will continue to stay with her husband, who was moved to the hospital’s diagnostic treatment and rehabilitation unit. He is expected to remain there for a week before being moved to another rehabilitation facility.

Perez was set to be transferred to such a center Friday, but doctors--aware that he had a slight fever--took X-rays and discovered that he had developed pneumonia.

“He had a low-grade fever, 99.8, and we are treating him for the chest infection,” said Dr. George E. Locke, chairman of neurosurgery at King/Drew.

Locke said that pneumonia is not unusual for people who, like Perez, have been in a coma. They are often unable to properly expel their secretions, Locke said.

Perez, who was not expected to live when first brought into the emergency room, continued to show small improvements. The right-handed teacher has what Locke described as “normal” movement on his right side. His left side remains mostly paralyzed, but he has shown some very slight movement.

“His spirits are good,” Locke said. “He is eating well. Today I told his wife she can bring him food from home if she likes.”

Meanwhile, at Figueroa school, the bulletproof glass that will be installed on windows facing Figueroa Street was delivered Friday and stored in the library where Perez was shot.

The glass is expected to be in place within a week. Most of the cost is being picked up by Mayor Richard Riordan and actor Edward James Olmos.

“The new glass is not going to stop all the problems, but we’re excited about it,” said Assistant Principal Miguel Campa. “We need to be alive before we can teach, so it’s a good step.”

Campa said that interest generated by the shooting will enable the school to acquire a reading and writing computer center known as the Right to Read Lab.

A fund to help the Perez family with medical expenses has been created at the school.

Donations, payable to Figueroa Street Student Body Fund, in care of the Perez family, may be sent to the school at 510 W. 111th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90044