Family of shooting victim sues Tacoma schools
TACOMA, Wash. -- The family of a teenager who was shot to death at a high school in Tacoma is seeking $35 million from the city's public schools.
The seven wrongful death claims were filed Thursday by the family of Samnang Kok. Lawyers for the family say school officials should have done more to prevent the fatal shooting of the 17-year-old Foss High School junior on Jan. 3, 2007.
Kok was shot near a row of lockers just before classes were to begin.
Witnesses told police that another Foss student, 19-year-old Douglas S. Chanthabouly, pointed a handgun at Kok, said "What's up?" and fired a shot into his face. Police believe the shot was fired from no more than a foot away.
The shooter stood over the body and fired twice more, court documents said.
Some students who heard the gunshots or saw the victim crumple to the floor didn't believe what was happening was real. The screaming teachers and streaks of blood on the lockers quickly convinced them it was.
The shooting, which happened just before the first period bell rang at 7:30 a.m. on the day classes resumed after the holiday break, sent students scrambling as Kok lay dying in a hallway. The shooter bolted out a set of double doors.
About two hours later, police arrested Chanthabouly, 18, a few blocks away from Henry Foss High School.
Chanthabouly is charged first-degree murder, but his trial has been postponed because he is mentally ill.
Detectives wrote in police reports that Chanthabouly confessed to killing Kok, but wouldn't tell them why.
According to the Kok family's claims, school officials should have known Chanthabouly was mentally ill enough to be a threat to students and staff.
A school system lawyer, Susan K. Schreurs, says school officials do not believe there was negligence.
The seven wrongful death claims were filed Thursday by the family of Samnang Kok. Lawyers for the family say school officials should have done more to prevent the fatal shooting of the 17-year-old Foss High School junior on Jan. 3, 2007.
Kok was shot near a row of lockers just before classes were to begin.
Witnesses told police that another Foss student, 19-year-old Douglas S. Chanthabouly, pointed a handgun at Kok, said "What's up?" and fired a shot into his face. Police believe the shot was fired from no more than a foot away.
The shooter stood over the body and fired twice more, court documents said.
Some students who heard the gunshots or saw the victim crumple to the floor didn't believe what was happening was real. The screaming teachers and streaks of blood on the lockers quickly convinced them it was.
The shooting, which happened just before the first period bell rang at 7:30 a.m. on the day classes resumed after the holiday break, sent students scrambling as Kok lay dying in a hallway. The shooter bolted out a set of double doors.
About two hours later, police arrested Chanthabouly, 18, a few blocks away from Henry Foss High School.
Chanthabouly is charged first-degree murder, but his trial has been postponed because he is mentally ill.
Detectives wrote in police reports that Chanthabouly confessed to killing Kok, but wouldn't tell them why.
According to the Kok family's claims, school officials should have known Chanthabouly was mentally ill enough to be a threat to students and staff.
A school system lawyer, Susan K. Schreurs, says school officials do not believe there was negligence.
