A teacher fired shots while teaching a classroom of students in Seaside, California on March 14.
California teacher Dennis Alexander shot his gun during a demonstration about gun safety in his Administration of Justice class. Following gun safety rules, he had pointed the weapon at the ceiling as it discharged. Students were hit by fragments of the ceiling. One student was hit by a bullet fragment and was taken to the hospital.
Alexander is a teacher at Seaside High School in Seaside, California. He also serves as a reserve police officer with the nearby Sand City Police Department (SCPD).
The police department reported that the weapon was a handgun, Alexander’s police service weapon. According to statements made by the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, he was not authorized to be in possession of the gun on school property.
Support from the Community
At a Seaside City Council meeting later that week, Alexander apologized for the incident. Many students from Seaside High School were in attendance and have spoken out in support of the teacher.
“I can’t find the words to say how sorry I am for the incident,” Alexander struggled to say emotionally. “But I also want to thank all of those who have shown support. It helps a lot, it gets me through the day.”
Students also shared that Alexander is “one of the most respected teachers and most influential teachers on campus.” Gesturing to the rows of students in attendance, they said that they hoped he would be able to stay at Seaside High School.
Alexander is a member of the Seaside City Council.
Other teachers have also spoken out in support of Alexander. News station KSBW8 quoted teacher Rikee Ross saying “He is an outstanding man. There are hundreds of kids lined up to sign a petition for him. He has changed thousands of lives on this campus.”
Students Taking Action
Students gathered in the Seaside High School gym to sign a petition and show their support for Alexander. They joined students around the United States participating in walk outs. Students took to the streets to demand that lawmakers take action following the recent shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school.
With temperatures in the low 50s and rain falling consistently throughout the day, students from Seaside High School joined those from nearby Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Marina, and Salinas schools.
Each school district expressed their desire to respect the students’ rights to peaceful protest. “The point is for students’ voices to be heard in impactful and age appropriate ways and on campus,” Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Kotowski told the Monterey County Weekly. Some planned activities, such as letter writing campaigns or ceremonies honoring those killed in school shootings. Others held classes as scheduled, offering students an opportunity to voice their opinion during lunch and break activities.
Alexander has been placed on administrative leave from both the school and the police department pending an investigation.
In the wake of tragic shootings, such as Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012, and Marshall County and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Schools in 2018, many Americans are questioning the role that guns play in our society. Solutions range from strict gun control laws to allowing more people to legally carry weapons in defense of the innocent. Everyone agrees that changes must be made but lawmakers have yet to agree on a way forward.
