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Students remember slain teen Larry King during ceremony
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Photo by Dana Rene Bowler
Lauren Banda and Iris Rodriguez, both 14, hug each other during a Friday memorial in honor of fellow student Larry King.
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More from Education: K-12
Photo by Dana Rene Bowler
Doves were released Friday afternoon at E.O. Green School in Oxnard during a tribute to Larry King, a 15-year-old shot during class.
Melissa Castillo urged hundreds of her fellow students Friday to show compassion for each other, no matter where they come from or who they are.
"Whether we understand it or not, we all have a social responsibility to each other," Castillo, the associated student body president at E.O. Green School in Oxnard, said to students during a tribute on Friday to former classmate Larry King.
King, 15, was gunned down in class, allegedly by another student, on Feb. 12 and was pronounced dead the next day. King's classmates said he was openly gay and was teased by some students at the middle school.
"In this great tragedy that happened here at our school, there are really two victims and two great friends we have lost," Castillo said of King and Brandon McInerney, the 14-year-old student suspected of the shooting.
"My hope would be that we can all take this incident and be able to build, learn, grow and pave the way for a better future," the eighth-grader told students as they sat on the ground in back of the school under a warm afternoon sun.
Castillo's father, Edward, said his daughter was a friend to both McInerney and King. He said the shooting was very hard on his daughter and many others at the south Oxnard school.
Compassion for others was a theme throughout Friday's memorial service.
The song "What the World Needs Now is Love" played over the loudspeakers as students were escorted to the ceremony.
King's mother, Dawn King, and younger brother, Rocky, sat in the front row as Principal Joel Lovstedt addressed students.
"Larry King was our classmate and friend," Lovstedt said. "He'll be greatly missed."
Lovstedt recalled how difficult it was for everyone the morning King was shot, including for parents, who stood in a long line outside the school to pick up their children. "It was not easy for them or for us," he said.
Lovstedt and other school staff members said they wanted King's legacy at the school to be one of love and acceptance for others. The principal then reminded students of an old proverb.
"It's better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness," he said.
"We must try to make Larry's death a candle in the darkness," he said. "Let us rise to a higher purpose."
A group of students then spoke, recalling how King was openly gay. One girl praised King for his independence. "You were a nice person, so God chose you because he needed an angel," she said. "Larry, you will always be in our hearts."
Heidi Haines, an assistant principal, said King's soul would forever live in her heart. A school band played "Amazing Grace" after Haines spoke. A flock of white doves was then released and flew several times over the students.
Posted by CatInAHat on March 8, 2008 at 6:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder how many of these kids were so kind to Larry King when he was alive?
Posted by caligirl1506 on March 8, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ya me too...they probably didn't even aknowledge him until now. pretty sad really
Posted by NothingButTheTruth on March 8, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CatInAHat & caligirl, you are probably correct, but better late than never to learn tolerance. Race, religion and sexual orientation all require understanding; the ability to respect differences and getting along even though we may not agree. Hopefully these kids will learn something from this incident to someday teach their own children.
Posted by aerodc8 on March 8, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I really don't know what was going on here when this shooting happened, but I don't believe it happened in a vacuum. Our kids are exposed to too much too soon, including sex, at younger and younger ages, things they may not be ready to handle. I'm just glad my sister got her kids out of the public "schools" when she did and taught them at home. They can think for themselves and are far more independent than the average public school student. 2 out of the 3 are in college, one at 17 and the other at 16 and the third may be going to Juilliard, from a family that is barely middle class. I've never heard of a home school shooting. If possible, get your kids the hell out of those places, which really could care less if your kid can even spell his name by the time he "graduates". Nothing good can come of this incident - one kid dead and another, 14, also still far more child than adult, looking at a useless, brutalized life in prison. Not good for society at large but great for the prison guards union who are getting plenty of repeat business. When are folks going to learn that government does nothing - NOTHING - useful except pound young heads into a submissive mush where they will be good little obedient robots believing whatever their masters tell them? If people don't learn critical thinking skills it makes it all the easier for those who "govern" us to get away with virtually anything. I feel sorry for both the King and NcInerney families. These are 2 kids who didn't make it, but they are 2 of thousands in situations like this nationwide. It really is too late to "reform" these institutions. They are what they are. Also, with 4,000 abortions performed every day in this country it was only a matter of time before life became cheap for all of us. We are reaping a terrible harvest and each and every one of us has responsibility for this.
There is indeed a revolution of sorts taking place in this country and it is coming from the home schoolers, quiet but dangerous for the "ruling class". Make no mistake - our elites are terrified of the home schooling phenomenon for a variety of reasons. One is that there are more and more kids not under the government propaganda machine's thumb. That means these kids will be adults who see through the lies and crap spoon fed to us daily and just might work to change it. Independent minds will challenge the dependent tryanny currently infecting our society. That court ruling last week here in Calif. is just one step that will be taken to try to crush the biggest threat to their power. Anyway, I think more folks are beginning to wake up.
Posted by OFD_Wife on March 8, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How do we expect our children to love, accept and "tolerate" when the adults in our community DO NOT. We are the teachers and the role models, and we are failing our children, as a community.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on March 9, 2008 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seems these children have bigger hearts and souls then most commenters. They have forgiveness and a shining light to teach others love. I do not see hate out of thier mouths........I see children trying to change the world.....
Posted by JeannetteMedrano on March 10, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
aerodc8---I'm sure not all feel the way you do, I for one do not! Your sister is doing a great thing home schooling her children and congratulations to her for the success her children are having. But, do keep in mind that there are plenty of kids who attend public school and go on to get accepted at top universities. I have three nephews who attended public schools and all three went on to great universities, CSCI, Gonzaga & Berkley. My niece included, as she is now a nurse at only the age of 24. One thing I do agree with you on is the fact that our kids are exposed to way to much way to fast and way to young. As parents we need to guide, love and protect our children, that's our responsibility.
Both families are in my thoughts, hearts and prayers!
Posted by AnnaWhaat on March 10, 2008 at 6:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JeannetteMedrano,Great comment I totally agree! And add alot of prayer !!!! Its hard to raise kids during these times. We need all the help we can get ! Do all we can and pray it was enough!
Posted by WhatsTheBigDeal on March 10, 2008 at 10:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm tired of hearing about this.....
Posted by AnnaWhaat on March 11, 2008 at 6:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Then do not come to the site to read it?
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