Crenshaw parents and residents respond to shooting outside of local school

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After a shooting occurred outside of Crenshaw High School Thursday, parents remained wary when walking their children to class. Two teenagers shot each other near the campus Wednesday afternoon, and one is still in serious condition.

Donna Brown lives about six houses away from where the shooting occurred. The students involved were not from Crenshaw High School, but the occurrence left Brown unsettled.

"Quite frankly, I'm really kind of shocked because I thought all of this stuff was under control," Brown said.

Police believe the shooting that involved a 17- and 19-year-old was gang related. It occurred around 1:30 p.m., when students were still in class.

Armando Farriez, a police lieutenant, partnered with the Los Angeles Urban League for the "safe passage" program. The program encourages police presence around the high school. But today, Farriez sent even more officers to the school.

"We spoke to a few parents, and they're always concerned, but they feel a sense of relief when they see us here," Farriez said.

But even though there were more officers in blue Thursday morning, some parents still believed their children were unsafe. Latoya Winston, a Crenshaw resident who went to the high school as a teenager, does not feel relieved. She walked her freshman daughter to the front gates of the school.

"To me, it's like they're just there, to have a look or a presence," she said of the police. "But to me, it's not effective because it happened."

Last year, Crenshaw High School locked students down after rumors spread that a student brought a gun to school. Eddie Jones of the Los Angeles Civil Rights Association said this activity just perpetuates a negative image for the high school.

"Crenshaw High School has been and is still getting a bad rap," Jones said. "I think the parents are upset. I'm sure no parent wants to go to work sitting at a desk and getting a call saying there was a shooting at their school."

Despite the communities best efforts to distill that negative image, Brown said that image is a reality.

"This was in broad daylight," Brown said. "I can't walk. I can't go walking when I feel like it. I'm ready to move, but because of the economy, I can't do that."

Brown has lived in the same house for 36 years, and she sent her daughter down the street to Crenshaw High School. The other day, she walked to the library, and although she felt bad for saying it, she said she felt safer walking west.