Youths Held in Vandalism of School

Richard Hunter, who lives across the street from Lillian Elementary School in the Florence district, had seen youths deface the campus before, as far back as a quarter of a century ago, when he was a student there. But what happened late Sunday was the most severe act of vandalism he had ever seen.

Seven teenagers broke into the school and wreaked havoc, scrawling graffiti and smashing televisions and audio equipment, causing about $100,000 in damage.

The only bright side, authorities said Monday, was the fact that two neighbors who saw the vandals banging on the school’s door called sheriff’s deputies. Officers arrested most of the suspects at the scene.

Lillian’s principal, David Nelson, thanked the couple with a phone call Monday but declined to identify them, saying they wish to remain anonymous because they fear retaliation by local gangs.

“This is the worst I’ve seen at any school I’ve worked at,” said the school’s plant manager, Barbara Dumas.

By the look of the school when Dumas arrived Sunday night, it appeared that the teenagers were going to set it on fire when they were caught, she said.

The teenagers, described by deputies as 13- to 15-year-old gang members, allegedly overturned and smashed two soda machines, emptied fire extinguishers on the cafeteria floor and into the school’s food supply, and spread books and garbage across the floors.

They also splashed paint on the walls, broke several doorknobs, scratched obscenities and gang graffiti over several rooms and destroyed a tree, according to school officials.

The school was forced to close a classroom and both the staff and student cafeterias and the teachers’ lounge for the day.

“Who would want to break down a tree?” Dumas said incredulously. “That’s sick. Those kids should have been at home in bed.”

Five youths were arrested at the scene on suspicion of burglary and felony vandalism, said Deputy Noel Lanier. A sixth suspect--believed to have committed two other school burglaries in the area--was apprehended Monday morning. All were being held without bail. A seventh suspect, also a juvenile, was still being sought.

A crew of 15 maintenance workers arrived on the campus to clean up the mess. Teachers paraded students in front of the destruction and told them “morning visitors” had ruined the school. Nelson said attendance was normal.

Food for the school was provided by nearby Freemont High School and Edison Junior High. Custodians said they hope to clean up the damage by today.

Teachers said this incident only made the job of educating the children more difficult. They said the area--between Watts and Huntington Park--has become more dangerous in recent years. Teacher Dennis Nesteby said shots were fired last week during lunchtime when a drug deal went sour near the campus, forcing the school to practice dropping drills so students would know to fall to the ground when violence broke out.

“How can [the students] get to learning when all this stuff is going on?” asked teacher Don Williams. “We’re fighting an uphill battle.”