Off-Campus Shooting Leads to Lockdown
The football game against Bethel High School was rescheduled to Tuesday, August 28th at 5:15PM for JV and 7:30PM for varsity. Proceeds from the gate will be donated to charity.
On the evening of Friday, August 25, Armijo students eagerly anticipated the first football game of the year. What soon followed, however, left students in disbelief as police investigation prompted the lockdown and evacuation of the high school.
Soon after kickoff of the junior varsity game, gunshots were heard from Washington Street and Bell Avenue, just one block away from Armijo High, prompting an Active Shooter response by Fairfield police.
Janelle Basa, Senior Class Officer, recounted her experiences of the incident. “All of a sudden, Mr. B came saying, ‘Everyone get inside the library right now.’ I was so confused,” said Basa.
In the library, students attempted to play games and remain calm as new details emerged of the incident. While lockdowns were not new to the students, the graveness of the issue mounted through the two-hour wait.
“It was just a lot going on and a lot of confusion. Definitely, it was something we didn’t think would ever happen,” said Lewa Day, Associated Student Body (ASB) officer.
“I was in the library and we were generally calm and getting updates as soon as Mr. B received them,” said Junior Class Officer Jazlynn De La Cruz, “I think what was scary was parents were getting different updates than us, so we were receiving different information and panicking.”
During the lockdown, armed officers searched the school campus for one of the shooters involved in the incident. Students also took shelter in the gymnasium, the band room and a handful of other classrooms. According to the Daily Republic, “…police had video of a suspect in the shooting entering the school gym and that the suspect may be inside the gym with 500 students, staff and parents.”
Fairfield police later cleared the gym to find the suspect, who was not armed and apprehended without incident. At approximately 6:30 pm, students were escorted out of the school with their hands clasped over their heads.
“It was just so much going on, and I was just worried for the other people as well,” said Basa, “It wasn’t until after that I found out that the students in the gym had to walk up with their hands on their heads because the suspect blended in with the crowd.”
Parents were told to pick up students at Empire and Jefferson as they were escorted out. The incident was resolved with help from Solano County sheriff’s deputies, Vacaville Police Department, Solano County Office of Emergency Services personnel, and Fairfield-Suisun School District staff.
Later, Fairfield police confirmed that 16-year-old Fairfield resident, Ahmar Willis, was killed in the shooting. The older victim, a Vallejo male, was reported to be hospitalized in critical condition. In a statement given to FOX40, Willis’ cousin Tausha Anderson said, “I’m just at a loss for words, honestly, to this whole situation. My nephew plays for Fairfield High and he had asked, ‘What time was the game?’ He was just looking forward to it and had told my nephew that he was going to come out and watch him play.” The case remains under investigation.
Additional counselors will be available when students return to school.
Ultimately, Armijo students were grateful for the work of the administration, staff, and police which led students to safety.
“I’d just want people to know that football games and other school events are still safe places to be and this is especially shown by how well the administration, teachers, and staff handled the incident,” said ASB officer Chloe Resngit, “I’m just thankful everyone is safe. This event truly showed how strong Armijo is.”
