Youth Shot on Campus Booked on Attempted Burglary Charges

An unarmed teenager who was shot during what police allege was a botched burglary attempt at Harvard-Westlake School a month ago has been booked on charges of second-degree burglary, authorities said Friday.

The 17-year-old high school student, who does not attend the Studio City private school, is recovering from the gunshot wound to his back. The campus’ facilities director, Frank Hedge, shot him in an early morning altercation but authorities exonerated Hedge two weeks ago.

The teenager has undergone two surgeries and is currently at home with family in the west San Fernando Valley. His Encino lawyer, Ralph Peretz, said the youth has never before been in trouble with the police and that he expects the boy to plead not guilty when charges are filed.

Los Angeles police officials said the investigation of the Oct. 19 burglary attempt is continuing. Authorities are examining whether the suspect had accomplices who might have been involved in other burglaries at the school. Several witnesses told police they saw two youths running from the school at the time of the shooting.