Santaluces provided counselors for students who needed support after the shooting death of Michael Robertson. - Kayelee Shimkoski
A 15-year-old is in jail and a Santaluces 16-year-old student is dead after a dispute over a stolen bike escalated into an afternoon shooting. As students practiced baseball and football on the fields and other after school activities took place on campus on Wednesday, Santaluces went under a total lockdown for nearly two hours.
Michael Robertson, who played JV football, was shot on Kewanee Drive and died on the way to the hospital. Police arrested a 15-year-old who plead not guilty to the shooting. According to police, the suspect shot Robertson in the chest with a .38 caliber revolver.
Baseball players said they saw the alleged shooter wearing a ski mask and running past the field shortly after the shooting. The girls softball team was herded into a concession building and others found themselves in the Performing Arts Center or the Chorus room for hours.
Because of the late start on Thursday, students did not arrive on campus until 10 a.m. When they did, many were dressed in all black in memory of Robertson. Students had shared information on Facebook and text messages about the shooting.
The school district provided counselors throughout the day in the media center for students who knew Robertson or for those who were feeling overwhelmed by the situation. The mood on campus was somber as students moved in and out of classes. The rain and cloudy weather seemed to make the atmosphere even worse. Students were also uneasy as at least five uniformed police officers and a few plain-clothed officers watched them move through the hallways.
On Friday morning, Mrs. Orloff, the school principal, led a moment of silence.