Jury Deadlocks Over 2 Accused of Shooting Teacher

A jury Tuesday deadlocked 7 to 5 in favor of acquitting two alleged gang members accused in the near-fatal, stray-bullet shooting of fifth-grade teacher Alfredo Perez last winter.

Frazier Frances, 18, accused of firing the shot that pierced Perez’s skull and brain, and Antonio Moses, 19, an alleged accomplice, are scheduled to return to Compton Superior Court on Oct. 22. Prosecutors will announce at that time whether the two men would be retried on attempted murder and assault charges.

Jurors began deliberating late last week after trial testimony that was marked by suggestions of witness intimidation. They were not available for comment Tuesday after being dismissed by Judge John T. Cheroske. Lawyers in the case remained unable to comment under a gag order imposed by the judge.

Perez’s shooting, regarded as the most serious assault on a teacher in the history of the Los Angeles public school system, attracted worldwide attention. Pope John Paul II and President Clinton sent messages of hopefulness, and authorities were lauded when arrests were made.

During the trial, however, the seven-woman, five-man jury was presented with one prosecution witness who seemed to provide Moses with an alibi and another who changed his testimony about seeing the shooting.

The prosecutor told the jury that the witness who recanted did so out of fear of retaliation. A defense lawyer branded that witness a liar.

For his part, Perez has continued to make a recovery from the shooting that has amazed his physicians.

After months of hospitalization and rehabilitation at home, he underwent surgery again last month to have a metal plate inserted over a hole in his skull caused by the bullet that struck him Feb. 22.

The incident, authorities said, occurred after Frances, standing across the street from Figueroa Street Elementary School in South-Central Los Angeles, allegedly fired a medium-caliber bullet at a passing car of rivals.

The bullet traveled across six lanes of traffic, through a metal window grate and glass into the school library, where Perez was with his students. It struck him in the forehead above his left eye, leaving him gravely injured.