School Fears Remain

By Debbie Williams Reporter

Parents in Pensacola are upset, angry and worried because a teenager accused in the shooting death of another student is out of jail. School Fears Remain

Published: Tue, February 26, 2008 - 5:38 pm

Debbie Williams

Parents in Pensacola are upset, angry and worried after a teenager accused in the shooting death of another student is out of jail. 17 year old Jamal Lee from Washington High School is charged with murder and attempted murder in a weekend shooting that killed 15 year old Daryl Williams from Pine Forest High School. Another teenager was also wounded.
Now the Escambia School District is scrambling to do what it can to put Jamal Lee back behind bars.
Just when students were starting to relax and head back to class, news that Washington High School student and murder suspect Jamal Lee is out of jail and free on bond.
"We have development like this on the heels of all this emotion and anxiety just as people are feeling better, obviously it brings concern," says school spokesman Ronnie Arnold.
The concern has gone from the school house to the courthouse where State Attorney Bill Eddins has filed a motion requesting bond be revoked and Lee returned to jail. In his motion, Eddins says there's a substantial probability Lee committed the crimes, he is a danger to the community and there's no alternative to protect the community.
School parking lots are full. Students afraid to come to class Monday are back, but there's one student who is not welcome back here.
"There are people who want to retaliate against this individual I'm sure," says Arnold, "maybe he's not finished whatever the argument was the other night that spurred all this on. Maybe there's other individuals on the peripheral, who knows? It's just a chance we don't want to take."
Superintendent Jim Paul released a statement on Lee's release saying in part: "While we have a great deal of respect for the legal system and the judiciary, we also have great concerns that the release of this individual will have an obvious adverse impact on the operation of the affected schools."
A hearing on the state attorney's motion is expected later this week.
There's more information about Lee's alleged involvement in the shooting that killed Pine Forest High School student Daryl Williams. Investigators say at least three eye-witnesses identified Lee as the shooter.
He was also charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and possession of marijuana.