Gunshots end senior's dream

By April M. Washington
Scripps Howard News Service

Isaiah Shoels

Isaiah Shoels, who dreamed of becoming a music executive, was shot in the head and killed Tuesday by two schoolmates who had boasted of targeting minority students.

Shoels was the only minority among the 13 killed by the pair.

His parents, Vonda and Michael Shoels, grappled with his death Wednesday, but also with the belief that school officials had ignored their complaint that their son was being threatened by the Trench Coat Mafia.

Betty Hooks, Isaiah's aunt, said Wednesday that the family believes the 18-year-old senior would still be alive had school officials investigated the complaint.

"We are angry about the whole situation," said Hooks, 44, of northeast Denver. "The school should have looked into what the children were telling them about the racism. But they chose to cover up these kinds of issues."

Kay Pride, spokeswoman for the Jefferson County School District, said the complaint would not have been ignored had it gone to the principal.

Hooks said the Shoelses' 15-year-old daughter, Michelle, had delivered the complaint to a school official. She said the official told Michelle that the school had no racial problems.

"We have strong beliefs and values in the school district that all people should be treated with respect," Pride said. "Harassment is not allowed. There are forceful district policies and federal and state laws that support the behavior we would like to see."

Pride insisted that the violence that took Shoels' life was random.

"You can take every reasonable step to make a positive environment for everyone, but sometimes human nature will defeat you," she said.

"Columbine has an outstanding record on these issues. We regret the parents are concerned about the situation their daughter mentioned. We would like to address the concerns."

The Shoelses were in mourning Wednesday and had no comment.

"Isaiah's mother is taking this real hard," said Harold Berry, a lifelong friend of the family. "It's been a really tough and difficult day."