Published Online: January 9, 2007

Published in Print: January 10, 2007, as Wash. State Student Shot, Killed at High School

News in Brief: A National Roundup

Wash. State Student Shot, Killed at High School

An 18-year-old student was in custody last week, accused of fatally shooting a fellow student at a Tacoma, Wash., high school.

Tacoma police arrested Douglas Chanthabouly on Jan. 3 in a wooded area near Henry Foss High School. About two hours earlier, Samnang Kok, 17, suffered three fatal bullet wounds in a hallway of the school.

Police spokesman Mark Fulghum said Mr. Chanthabouly had been booked on charges of first-degree murder and was scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Jan. 4.

Mr. Chanthabouly knew Mr. Kok, and they had had a disagreement of some kind, but details of their dispute had not yet been ascertained, Mr. Fulghum said last Thursday. The suspect has no criminal record, he said.

The shooting took place at 7:30 a.m., just before the first bell sounded on the day students returned to school from their winter break.

An armed school resource officer summoned police, while teachers gathered students in classrooms, the Associated Press reported. Police inspected the building to ensure the area was safe before students were sent home for the rest of the day.

By Catherine Gewertz

PHOTO: Rorth Kok, at his home in Tacoma, mourns the death of his son, Samnang Kok.

—Janet Jensen/The News Tribune/AP

Vol. 26, Issue 18, Page 6