Gang Member In Custody For Fatal Teen Shooting
Adams City High School Students To Hold Vigil For Bennie Williams
POSTED: 9:31 a.m. MDT September 5, 2003
UPDATED: 11:31 a.m. MDT September 5, 2003
DENVER -- A self-proclaimed gang member is in custody in connection with the shooting that killed one Adams City High School student and left another injured.
Paul Pena, 19, turned himself in to Commerce City police Thursday evening. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Police plan to search Pena's house Friday for the .22-caliber pistol used in the shooting. The troubled teen has been arrested at least seven times in Commerce City since he was 16, police told reporters.
Bennie Williams, 15, and his 16-year-old brother, Rodney, were both shot Thursday afternoon. Bennie died at the scene and Rodney was shot three times and seriously wounded.
Both were freshmen at the school, which sits just a quarter-mile from the skate park where the shooting occurred. The victims were described as close brothers who were always seen near one another, but who sometimes got into trouble.
Rodney Williams is recovering at Denver Health Medical Center after undergoing surgery for three bullet wounds.
The shooting occurred around 12:45 p.m. at Fairfax Park, at East 69th Avenue and Fairfax Drive in Commerce City.
Bonnie VanSchoiack, who lives across the street from the park, said she was inside when she heard the gunfire. She ran outside and saw several teens running from the scene and another teen bleeding, stumbling his way across the street.
She picked up her cordless phone from her house and dialed 911 while cradling Bennie in her arms. She said she could hear the blood gurgling in his mouth.
"I was on the phone (calling 911) and I was trying to help him. He was alive and not breathing well and he just died while I was sitting right there," VanSchoick said.
Four 15-year-old boys were questioned about the incident, but two were detained for probation violations.
Friends of the victims said a gang-related fight at the school the day before likely sparked the shooting. Investigators believe a fistfight
early Thursday evolved into shooting.
"I came up here and saw everything and just started bawling. I started crying my guts out, it was sad. I didn't like seeing them go down like that," said friend Keyth Ragland.
Adams City High School students are planning a vigil at Fairfax Park in Bennie William's memory at 10 p.m. Friday. The vigil will be held after the school's away football game. Both victims were members of the team.
The shooting forced all Adams County District 14 schools to lock down around 1 p.m. while police scoured the area for suspects. Frantic parents showed up at the schools but had to provide proper identification to pick up their children. The lockdown was lifted at about 3:30 p.m. but classes were let out late and buses ran late.
Paul Pena, 19, turned himself in to Commerce City police Thursday evening. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Police plan to search Pena's house Friday for the .22-caliber pistol used in the shooting. The troubled teen has been arrested at least seven times in Commerce City since he was 16, police told reporters.
Bennie Williams, 15, and his 16-year-old brother, Rodney, were both shot Thursday afternoon. Bennie died at the scene and Rodney was shot three times and seriously wounded.
Both were freshmen at the school, which sits just a quarter-mile from the skate park where the shooting occurred. The victims were described as close brothers who were always seen near one another, but who sometimes got into trouble.
Rodney Williams is recovering at Denver Health Medical Center after undergoing surgery for three bullet wounds.
The shooting occurred around 12:45 p.m. at Fairfax Park, at East 69th Avenue and Fairfax Drive in Commerce City.
Bonnie VanSchoiack, who lives across the street from the park, said she was inside when she heard the gunfire. She ran outside and saw several teens running from the scene and another teen bleeding, stumbling his way across the street.
She picked up her cordless phone from her house and dialed 911 while cradling Bennie in her arms. She said she could hear the blood gurgling in his mouth.
"I was on the phone (calling 911) and I was trying to help him. He was alive and not breathing well and he just died while I was sitting right there," VanSchoick said.
Four 15-year-old boys were questioned about the incident, but two were detained for probation violations.
Friends of the victims said a gang-related fight at the school the day before likely sparked the shooting. Investigators believe a fistfight
early Thursday evolved into shooting.
"I came up here and saw everything and just started bawling. I started crying my guts out, it was sad. I didn't like seeing them go down like that," said friend Keyth Ragland.
Adams City High School students are planning a vigil at Fairfax Park in Bennie William's memory at 10 p.m. Friday. The vigil will be held after the school's away football game. Both victims were members of the team.
The shooting forced all Adams County District 14 schools to lock down around 1 p.m. while police scoured the area for suspects. Frantic parents showed up at the schools but had to provide proper identification to pick up their children. The lockdown was lifted at about 3:30 p.m. but classes were let out late and buses ran late.
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- September 4, 2003: Teen Fatally Shot Near High School
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