Teen Shot on Private School Campus Booked for Burglary

An unarmed teenager shot during what police allege was a botched burglary attempt at Harvard-Westlake School a month ago has been booked for 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 shot him in an early-morning altercation but authorities exonerated the school employee two weeks ago.

The teen has undergone two surgeries and is currently 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 anticipates the boy will plead not guilty when charges are filed.

LAPD North Hollywood Division burglary Det. Vince Bancroft said the investigation into the Oct. 19 burglary attempt is ongoing.

Authorities are examining whether the teen had accomplices who might have been involved in other burglaries at the hillside Coldwater Canyon Avenue campus.

Several witnesses told police they saw two youths running from the school at the time of the shooting.

Frank Hedge, the school’s director of facilities and construction, shot and critically wounded the youth after receiving a call from a neighbor who heard noises at the school. Hedge, who lives in a school-owned house near the campus, took a loaded handgun along to investigate.

He found the door to Chalmers Hall smashed open, along with the door to a computer lab, authorities said.

At about that time, the teenager apparently ran out of the lab, slamming the door on the 54-year-old Hedge.

At that point, police say, Hedge fired at the teenager, who they say was trying to escape down the hall. Hedge told police that he did not intend to fire and that he does not recall the gun going off.

The teenager, whose name has not been released, has told authorities that he was trying to flee.

Hedge then telephoned 911 and escorted paramedics to the boy.

School officials have maintained that Hedge shot the youth in self-defense and that Hedge was unsure whether the boy was armed.

It was dark in the hallway and the boy is also larger than Hedge, authorities said.

Police have determined that the youth was not armed during the incident but officers said they believe an ax was used to break into the locked school doors.

No security officers were present at the campus during the Saturday morning shooting, and school officials said they are reviewing their security procedures.

Over the last six months, the school has been the target of several break-ins. Overall, school officials say they’ve lost more than $100,000 in computer equipment.

The campus hires off-duty Los Angeles police officers through a private firm to keep watch over the school at night and during special events.