Freshman blames district for Granite Hills wounds

May 23, 2001

EL CAJON -- A Granite Hills High freshman injured when a student opened fire on campus two months ago alleges he wouldn't be dealing with painful wounds, difficulty sleeping and trouble doing everyday activities if the school had done its job and provided a safe environment.

Tobey Halstead 15, filed a legal claim against the Grossmont Union High School District saying that the school was negligent in allowing Jason Anthony Hoffman to come on campus with guns.

Halstead's claim, which was received by the district Monday, seeks $250,000 for pain and suffering plus reimbursement for medical expenses. It is the first legal claim filed against the district related to the shootings at Granite Hills and Santana high schools in March, a district official said.

Because Halstead is a minor, the claim was filed through his mother, Barbara Halstead. She declined to comment yesterday and her attorneys could not be reached for comment.

Dan Shinoff, an attorney for the district, called the claim unfortunate.

"The district and school are going through a healing process, and this is really an unfortunate direction for this to go," Shinoff said. "From everything I know, I don't believe there is anything to suggest the school was negligent."

Hoffman, 18, has been charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in the March 22 shooting that injured two teachers and three students, including Halstead. The shooting ended less than two minutes after it started when a campus police officer shot Hoffman in the mouth and buttocks.

In a court hearing earlier this month, Halstead testified that he saw Hoffman shoot at a school dean and was shot himself as he ran around a corner.

Halstead has had surgery to remove buckshot from his buttocks and legs and would need more surgery to have 40 to 50 more pieces of buckshot removed, according to his claim.

Halstead's claim said he has "suffered extreme anxiety" after learning the pellets were made of lead and could cause him future health problems. Since the shooting, he has been distressed about attending school and has had trouble sleeping and carrying on daily activities.

Although the claim asks for reimbursement of $832 in medical expenses plus any future medical costs, the district has made arrangements to pay for the medical bills of students involved in the two shootings, Shinoff said.

Trustees will decide whether to accept or reject Halstead's claim. If trustees reject it, state law give Halstead six months to file a lawsuit.

District officials and trustees reached yesterday afternoon had no comment about the claim, other than to say that the district and schools have worked to create safe environments for students.

"We have open campuses," trustee Priscilla Schreiber said. "Unless we turn them into prisons, how do we stop something like that?"

The district has appointed a commission to look into ways the district can learn from the tragedies at Granite Hills and Santana and make campuses more secure for students. The group is expected to make recommendations to the school board this summer.