Coast to Coast Teenage Killings

 
Tacoma, Washington
Douglas Chanthabouly, 18, was charged with the first degree murder of 17-year-old Samnay Kok. The killing took place near a row of lockers just before school began on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 at Henry Foss High School in Tacoma, Washington. It was the first school shooting headline for the nation for the new year which follows a year of horrific school violence events throughout the nation.

Witnesses to the killing told law enforcement that Chanthabouly pointed a handgun inches away from Kok's face and shot him after saying "What's Up?" After the shot to the face, the shooter stood over the body and fired two more rounds that hit Kok.

The shooting took place just before the 7:30am bell on the first day of school after the holiday recess.

Kok was born to parents who fled to America to escape the killing fields of Khmer Rouge in Cambodia during the 1980's.

According to an Associated Press report, Rorth Kok, the father of the murdered student said Samney hoped to become a member of the United States Army after high school graduation. Since Kok is the father of an 18-month old boy, the father was quoted to say,

"My son is gone and his baby is always crying for his father,"

before breaking into sobs.

Newark, New Jersey
On the eastern coast of the United States, there has already been 5 killings in Newark, New Jersey during the first days of 2007. On Sunday, January 7, two teenagers (Newark's 4th and 5th murder victims of 2007) were killed in broad daylight in gang related street violence.

These tragedies remind us of the pervasiveness of violence throughout the nation. Violence has become a daily headline from the streets of Newark, NJ to the schools of Tacoma, Washington

Ironically, the Pierce County website states,

"Pierce County is one of the most livable communities in the nation."

Visit the Pierce County, Washington website...

Visit the Newark, New Jersey website...