BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Kern County residents are speaking out following a deadly shooting on Friday at Independence High School, calling for greater accountability and more community resources to address the root causes of school violence.
Advocacy groups, including Students Against Gun Violence, say the focus now is finding ways to better protect students both on and off campus.
"I think that it's truly saddening to see that number one, that a student felt like it was okay to even do something like that, and number two, adults were not liable and accountable," Jalynn Hammond said.
Other community members, including formerly incarcerated Charles Wells, say the issue of school violence runs much deeper — arguing it often begins with trauma and instability at home.
"We have to combine in the community and get more resources. We have to pour in more resources and structure instead of just saying 'I want you to get an A,'" Wells said.
Wells says physical fights are the result of traumatic experiences children release when they lack a safe space to understand their feelings.
"You'll be born looking like your momma or your daddy, but when you die you'll look like your decisions, " Wells said.
Wells wants families to understand that incidents like this destroy families on both sides, not just the victim's.
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