Schools lending support
A double homicide that occurred at a birthday party held over the weekend has prompted some Santa Monica organizations to reach out to friends and loved ones affected by the tragedy.
Jonathan Hernandez, 19, who attended Santa Monica High School, and Hector Bonilla, 25, husband and father of three, were both fatally shot in the head after an argument ensued with other partygoers.
The Pico Neighborhood Association said it would announce today the creation of a new fund to assist with the financial needs of families who are victims of violent crime.
“These are working families trying to sustain themselves,” said Maria Loya, PNA co-president. “They need help.”
The PNA will be using the funds to assist families with short-term needs, such as funeral expenses. But Irma Carranza, PNA treasurer, said she hopes the money will also be available to address long-term family needs.
“Hector had a wife and kids,” Carranza said. “His family depended on him, not only financially, but also for doing a lot of the errands, like taking the kids to school. These kids and their mother are going to need help for a long time, until they can manage on their own.”
John Deasy, superintendent for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, said the district is taking steps to provide emotional support to students close to the victims, or those who witnessed the slaying.
“I am deeply grieved by the issue. It was a horrifying tragedy that took place,” Deasy said. “I knew Jon Hernandez and his mom.”
Deasy said the district is providing grief and trauma counseling services for students at Samohi, where Hernandez had attended, and at John Adams Middle School, where other students close to the victims still attend. Counseling also is being provided at Will Rogers Elementary School, where Bonilla's son, Hector Jr., 7, attends.
“It’s been very intense, but very good,” Deasy said.
Marilyn Freeman, outreach coordinator for the district, said she has been working with schools to ensure students and staff alike have the appropriate support.
Freeman said the district has a crisis support team in place at the three schools, consisting of individuals from organizations such as Saint John’s Health Center, El Nido and Jewish Family Services. Freeman said individuals from those organizations, assigned to the schools prior to the homicides, are familiar with students and staff.
According to Freeman, there is a school psychologist assigned to work with each school on a regular basis, and will assist the crisis team. In addition, the district has a community resource person who helps facilitate “all students and staff who need it,” she said.
A follow-up session to a Feb. 26 gang violence workshop, co-sponsored by the city, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 12, at John Adams Middle School, 2425 16th St., across the street from the Moose Lodge, where the gunfire erupted on Saturday. Many Samohi students had attended the party, Deasy said.
“I would qualify this as a substantial impact (within the school district),” Deasy said.
Although police have not disclosed whether the crime was gang-related, Carranza said she is looking forward to the event.
“This is a time for the community to come together,” Carranza said. “I hope the turnout is great. More than ever, we need to come up with valid solutions to stop the gang violence.
“We need to build a safety net for our children and give them choices for a better life.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 8, 2005. Read the original PDF.