Las Vegas NowPalo Verde H.S. Student Remembered

Palo Verde H.S. Student Remembered

Two vigils were held over the weekend for the 15-year-old Palo Verde High School student, Christopher Privett, who was killed on Friday. Another one was held at 6:30 p.m. Monday evening.

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Friends say he was on the football team and in the band. He was shot and killed while walking with a group of friends.

Freshman Christina Eliakis had gone to school with Chris since elementary. "I haven't been able to sleep, I'm sick to my stomach, I have a headache I can't get rid of."

Christina is one of several students who says her sense of security had been destroyed and that this shooting has opened up a whole new world

"It's ridiculous, people live in a bubble," she said.

"We're in Summerlin, you think of nice people, nice neighborhoods, nothing bad happening. You don't think of somebody getting shot right by their school," said another student, Tracy Bushur.

Friends and family of the victim all say Chris was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Parents whose kids attend Palo Verde are speaking out, saying this neighborhood isn't as perfect as everyone thinks. Trouble makers have disrupted their community before, but not like this.

Sylvia Eliakis, mother of a student there said, "It is not random. The district, school police and Metro all need to investigate. This is not random, no way."

"Bad people live everywhere. I don't think you can say bad people don't live in certain areas of town. I'm hoping and believing this is just a tragic mistake. You look at his family that has lost a child but you look at the shooter and wonder what in the world would make some one do this, you can't imagine what type he's going to have," said Terri Janison, a school board member.

Janison says she's been answering calls from parents and even principals who have offered their support and want to do something to rally around and show unity. She says a plan will soon be in the works.

Police have not said if this shooting is gang related but have also not given a notice. Police say it appears the group was targeted, and police are still investigating a possible motive.

For now, a 16-year-old sophomore sits in jail, charged with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder while students there continue to deal with the loss of a friend.

Clark County School District Superintendent Walt Rulffes released the following statement:

"I'm outraged and saddened at the loss this kind of senseless act causes. The families of all those involved will be greatly affected, especially the family of the student we lost. While I'm grateful that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has again acted quickly and effectively to apprehend the shooter, prevention is more important than enforcement to counter this problem.

"The recent rash of school and university random shootings, as well as 'drive-by shootings' like the student from Palo Verde High School, represent a complex problem with no easy answers. Given the access to weapons and the relentless portrayal of violence in the entertainment industries, there are no easy remedies to counter this growing problem.

"I believe the reoccurrence of this kind of tragedy reiterates the need for more trenchant attention and support for our young population and their needs."

Christopher Privett's visitation will be held on Thursday from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. The funeral will be held Thursday night from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Palm Mortuary at Buffalo and Cheyenne.

If you have any information on these shootings, you are asked to call CrimeStoppers at 385-5555.