Arheel's Uncle
Senior Reporter
Teen fatally shot near Concord high school mourned
Concord police announced Tuesday evening that they had booked five people on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
www.eastbaytimes.com
| Hispanic PERUVIAN MS-13 WANNABEE sentenced to life for killing teen to join MS-13 
Kristhiam Uceda was sentenced by Judge John Kennedy in a Martinez courtroom Friday, but not until after Uceda heard from family members of his victim, 17-year-old Lawrence Janson. Uceda was convicted in March of second-degree murder and assault with a firearm in the two shootings. Teen fatally shot near Concord high school mournedA memorial for Lawrence Janson is photographed in front of Olympic Continuation High School on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Concord, Calif. Janson,17, was shot and killed near the school on Monday. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) By Rick Hurd | rhurd@bayareanewsgroup.com and Annie Sciacca | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: November 7, 2017 at 9:02 a.m. | UPDATED: November 8, 2017 at 4:58 a.m. CONCORD — Through their hugs and tears, the grief gripping Lawrence Janson’s family was palpable Tuesday on the campus of Olympic Continuation High School. Related ArticlesThey weren’t alone. Some students cried. Others stood together staring blankly at candles and pictures, and into the sky on the crisp fall morning.
Lawrence Janson, 17, was fatally shot Monday, Nov. 6, near Olympic High School in Concord. (Contributed Photo) The question on everyone’s mind: Why would anyone have targeted 17-year-old Lawrence? Concord police announced Tuesday evening that they had booked five people on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Concord police Lt. Nick Gartner did not share the names or ages of the suspects out of concern that spreading the information would interfere with the ongoing investigation, but he confirmed that the group was a mix of adults and juveniles and that the shooter is an adult. Police are still interviewing suspects and witnesses. A motive for the killing was unclear. All five suspects are males from Concord, Gartner said. Police also recovered the weapon used in the homicide — a handgun — and the car the suspects were driving. “He was a good kid,” Lawrence’s father, Raul Bravo, said Tuesday morning through tears. “As far as we knew, he was liked by everybody. He loved sports. This is just the most agonizing feeling.” Stay up to date on East Bay news by downloading our mobile app for free. Get it from the Apple app store or the Google Play store. Flowers and candles lined the sidewalk in front of the school entrance Tuesday morning, and a large picture of Lawrence hung from a chain-link fence. Lawrence, a senior, was in his first semester at the school, Bravo said, after spending time at Mt. Diablo High and struggling with grades.“He wrestled over at Mt. Diablo for a bit before he came here,” Bravo said. “He played West Pittsburg Youth Football. He always loved sports. He was beginning to understand life.” Grief counselors and a crisis team from the Mt. Diablo Unified School District were at the campus to help the staff and students. “Everybody’s mainly just really sad,” Principal Lynsie Castellano said. “They had a vigil here last night, and we’re just tending to what everybody’s needs are today, not just for the students, for the staff, too. We’re also working very closely with the family. This has been a traumatic experience for everyone involved.” Police have said that a suspect in a four-door black sedan got out of the car and shot Lawrence as he stood among a group of people near the corner of Salvio and Beach streets around 1:30 p.m. Monday. The school, which was not in session at the time of the shooting, is at 2730 Salvio St. 
A memorial for Lawrence Janson, 17, who was fatally shot Monday, Nov. 6, near Olympic High School in Concord. (Contributed Photo) Lawrence ran back onto the campus after the shooting, where he collapsed and was treated by school staff and emergency responders, according to police. An ambulance rushed Lawrence to the hospital, where he died from his injuries. “I don’t know why this would happen,” Bravo said. “Young kids today are nothing but punks. They handle their stuff with guns. They’re cowards.” Students on the campus were kept there until about 3 p.m. after police locked down the campus after the shooting, Castellano said. Like our Facebook page for more conversation and news coverage from the East Bay and beyond. The others in the group hanging out with Lawrence scattered and were not injured.Police are looking for witnesses, and ask anyone who saw the shooting to call the Concord Police Department at 925-671-3333. |
