School Resource Officer Shot by 18-Year-Old

According to the National Institute of Justice, 71% of schools reported at least one violent crime during the 2017-2018 school year.

Sadly, the Clark County School District knows this fact all too well after the recent controversial shooting of a campus security monitor at a middle school.

Reports explain how the security monitor was working at Ed Von Tobel Middle School at the time of the shooting. The monitor was outside of the building securing the premises when he was suddenly struck by a stray bullet. The person responsible, now identified as 18-year-old Jessie Rios, was arrested.

He’s facing extremely serious charges including four counts of attempted murder with the intent of promoting or assisting a criminal gang. He’s also been charged with four counts of discharging a gun into an occupied structure, 15 counts of discharging a gun within a prohibited area, and one count of battery with a deadly weapon.

Unfortunately, this type of situation is becoming increasingly common. That’s one reason why about 20% of the current Clark County School District Police officer positions are unfilled. That means there’s already a lack of campus security monitors and first responders at school.

School resource officers face extremely dangerous situations often. Sometimes, officers find weapons and drugs on students, break up fights, or even experience violence themselves. On a daily basis, school resource officers are expected to monitor the area, approach and stop visitors on campus, and help with emergency drills and situations.

On average, these challenges only amount to an annual wage of about $22,000. To help offset these challenges, the Clark County School District is expected to start offering pay raises.

Violent Crimes in Schools

The 18-year-old implicated in the recent school-related shooting is facing some of the most serious charges. Under Nevada law, attempted murder is a felony offense that could carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison. Since this young adult’s charges also include gang-related activity, there’s a great chance that the sentence will be increased. Additionally, the charges of discharging a gun in a prohibited area could carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

If you commit any type of school-related violence in Nevada, then you’ll likely also face very substantial charges.

Regardless of the severity of the charges you’re facing, you’re always entitled to quality legal representation. A good criminal defense attorney will help you better understand the charges you’re facing as well as the potential defense strategies you can use to defend yourself in court.

If you’re in Las Vegas or a nearby area and you’re facing school-related violence charges, then we can help you navigate the challenging situation you’re facing. Schedule a consultation with our office now to discuss your charges in more detail with one of our best attorneys.