Hundreds of Taft Union High School parents met with district officials Tuesday for the first time since this month's shooting. Many demanded answers about what's being done to prevent something like this from happening again. At times, the discussion was heated.
"It's with a tremendous amount of sadness we meet here tonight," said William McDermott, Interim Superintendent for the Taft Union High School District.
Parents walked into the lecture hall at the high school one by one, wanting answers to many questions, armed with painful memories.
"He walked into that classroom when my son was in there and my son and 28 or 27 other kids could have lost their lives," said parent Steve Gee.
Their big question was why 16-year-old Bryan Oliver allegedly walked into a science classroom and shot his classmate, Bowe Cleveland, then attempted to shoot another student.
Many parents blame the district and accuse the administration of knowing Oliver had plans to shoot up the school.
"It was brought to the attention of the staff that this child had an issue with several other students," said parent Fred Alonzo.
The district said it could not talk about the alleged hit list because disclosing details about a student's history is against the law.
"I can just tell you that the law precludes us from responding," said McDermott.
Even so, parents pushed the issue. They said Oliver was suspended for two days last year for plans to kill students.
"Why was he let go? And, is there going to be any kind of discipline for the people who allowed this to take place?" asked Gee.
"He should have never been allowed back at this school," said parent Jessenia Parsons.
The school would not confirm the suspension, but said, by law, they can only punish a student so much.
"We are limited to an expulsion that would only last one year," said McDermott.
The campus resource officer, who was snowed in the day of the shooting, blamed himself for not protecting the students.
"The day they needed me I wasn't there," said Officer Doug Hallmark.
But, parents don't blame Officer Hallmark or any other law enforcement officer. They just want answers from the district.
The district did outline a future plan to prevent situations like this at Taft High School.
During school hours, the only open entrance will be the front door. Before and after school, only three gates will be open, but they will be guarded by staff. The district also plans to bring in bullying experts from the Tehachapi Unified School District.
This will be the first of many community meetings about the shooting.
