Students and staff at Cook Middle School Wednesday morning struggled with the news of the death of eighth grader Andy Lopez, who was shot and killed in an encounter with Sonoma County sheriff's deputies Tuesday.
'We're having a tough day,' said Assistant Principal Linsey Gannon. 'Our community has been rocked by this tragedy.'
Lopez, 13, had gone to Cook for seventh grade and up until Friday was an eighth grader at the Sebastopol Road school.
Deputy-Involved Santa Rosa Shooting
Law enforcement investigators photograph the body of a 13-year-old boy was shot and killed by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
A picture of Andy Lopez, 13, is shown on his father's phone on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. Lopez was shot and killed by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies after being seen carrying what appeared to be a pellet gun modeled after an AK-47. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
An image released by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office shows the toy or replica gun that Andy Lopez, 13, was carrying when he was shot and killed by two sheriff's deputies. (SONOMA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE )
Family and friends of 13-year-old Andy Lopez walk holding hands to his home after Sonoma County sheriff's deputies shot and killed the teenager on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
Law enforcement investigators walk by the body of a 13-year-old boy who was shot and killed by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
Investigators in a CHP helicopter take video and photos of the crime scene where a 13-year-old boy was shot and killed by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
Police officers from the Santa Rosa Police Department leave the home of 13-year-old Andy Lopez who was shot and killed by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
Officers explain why residents cannot return to their home while investigating a deputy-involved shooting near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
Law enforcement officers speak with EMTS on the scene of a deputy-involved shooting near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
Law enforcement investigators cover the body of a 13-year-old boy shot and killed by Sonoma County deputies near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
Officers from the Santa Rosa Police Department leave the home of 13-year-old Andy Lopez who was shot and killed by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
Law enforcement officials investigate the scene of a deputy-involved shooting near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
A school bus stuck along Moorland Avenue finally leaves past the a crime scene where 13-year-old boy was shot and killed by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
Officers from the Santa Rosa Police Department leave the home of 13-year-old Andy Lopez who was shot and killed by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
Law enforcement investigators cover the body of a 13-year-old boy was shot and killed by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
An EMT waits by the scene of a deputy-involved shooting near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
Officers from the Santa Rosa Police Department leave the home of 13-year-old Andy Lopez who was shot and killed by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies earlier in the day on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. (CONNER JAY/ PD )
School officials said that as of this week Lopez had transferred to Lewis Opportunity School, a small alternative school in the Santa Rosa School District.
At Cook he was well known and well liked, said Gannon. She said he also he'd played trumpet in the school band.
'He was a very popular student, very smart, very capable,' Gannon said.
With news of the death, school officials activated their crisis intervention plan.
Wednesday morning grief counselors and therapy dogs were at the school and activities aimed at helping students and staff were underway, she said.
Evidence of grief and shock was palpable throughout the school.
Some students cried. One large group stood huddled together near the campus flag pole in a large group hug. Photos of Lopez appeared on an office window.
Gannon announced Lopez' death in a morning message to the school population and students wanting to talk about what had happened began meeting one-on-one with counselors.
Two deputies on patrol at about 3 p.m. Tuesday in the southwest area of Santa Rosa spotted a person at the intersection of Moorland and West Robles avenues. He was carrying what officials later called a replica of an assault rifle.
The deputies stopped and repeatedly told him to put down the weapon and within seconds several shots were fired.
The youth was hit repeatedly and died at the scene.
Santa Rosa and Petaluma police detectives are investigating the shooting. Interviews were conducted throughout the night, said Santa Rosa Lt. Paul Henry.
Police officials were meeting Wednesday morning to get debriefed on the investigation and then planned to release more information, Henry said.
Sheriff's officials early Wednesday declined to comment on the case, referring questions to Santa Rosa police.
The names of the deputies involved also haven't been released. They've been placed on administrative leave, which is standard in such cases.
Posted by Unknown on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - Rating: 4.5
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