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High school tragedy averted

No one knows whether 15-year-old Christopher Rodriguez, who had a cache of weapons and a disturbing interest in neo-Nazism, planned to harm anyone at Clearwater High School. But if he did, the system worked to prevent a tragedy.

A teacher reported to an assistant principal two comments Rodriguez had made: "No one will jump me because I always carry a knife," and, "Why do you sit me next to people I want to shoot?"

An assistant principal and school resource officer immediately removed Rodriguez from class and questioned him. They found he had brass knuckles, a ski mask and several drawings of weapons and swastikas. Inside his book bag was a school assignment in which Rodriguez had drawn stick figures shooting each other, and a list of "dislikes" that included numerous racial and ethnic groups.

Clearwater police officers went to Rodriguez's home, where he lived with his grandfather, and found he had two rifles, including a Russian SKS semiautomatic, a derringer, a homemade zip gun, homemade silencers, a gas mask, ammunition and Meals Ready to Eat. On his computer, they found reams of white supremacist material and a copy of the surveillance tape of Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris shooting students at Columbine High School in 1999. And perhaps most disturbing, they learned that Rodriguez had been practicing assembling and loading his guns in the dark.

The troubled youth, whose parents are not in his life, was arrested by Clearwater police on two weapons charges. He is now in a juvenile facility where, hopefully, he is receiving the help he needs to deal with his anger and hostility.

Police are continuing to investigate whether others at Clearwater High had similar beliefs and equipment, and students have come forward with additional information. It is vital that the investigation continue, and not just at the Clearwater school. According to a recent CNN news report, the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi groups are actively recruiting young men to their cause, even those as young as high school age. It is important for Tampa Bay area police and school officials to know whether that recruitment effort is reaching students here.

Some parents are criticizing Clearwater High for not notifying parents about the Rodriguez case for a month, waiting until the St. Petersburg Times was preparing to print a story. Parents have a right to information about such activity in their children's schools, and other students, if they had known earlier about the case, might have been more helpful to police.

However, it should comfort parents to know that Pinellas school officials and law enforcement officers are watching for aberrant behavior and are ready to act when they spot it.

[Last modified February 22, 2006, 01:03:15]