Community Calls for Parole Board to Deny Parole For Santana High School Shooter

An effort by lawmakers and community leaders in San Diego County to deny the parole of the 2001 Santana High School shooter Charles Andrew Williams continued to grow this month as his first parole hearing on September 10th inches closer.

On March 5, 2001, the then 15-year-old Williams entered Santana High School in Santee with a .22 caliber revolver after weeks of threatening to do so and “pull a Columbine”. He proceeded to go on a rampage, killing 2 and injured 13 more before first responders arrived and apprehended Williams, who surrendered while in the middle of reloading. When arrested, he alternated between telling the police that he was tired of being bullied and was acting on a dare.

Not wanting a trial, Williams pleaded guilty to all counts, and in 2002, was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. Since then there have a been a few efforts to get him an early release. Some said he was too young to be sentenced that harshly, with Williams himself petitioning then-Governor Jerry Brown in 2018 for a commuted sentence following the passage of a new law having those under 16 be tried as adults. These efforts failed, with Williams first parole hearing being set for September 10, 2024, 23 years after the shooting when Williams turns 38, and less than half the minimum sentence put into place in 2002. This was due in large part to the 2013 Youth Offender Parole Hearing law, which greatly changed youth offender crime factors.

With the parole hearing looming, Williams team has put into a plan where he will face victims for the first time and ask them and the parole board for forgiveness. However, victims and victims families, denied a chance to confront Williams in the early 2000’s due to him pleading guilty on all counts, will get to face him directly for the first time. Many have said that he should not have been even given the chance for a release, let alone an early parole hearing, including Michelle Zuckor, whose son was shot and killed by Williams during the shooting.

“I just can’t believe it,” said Zuckor in a recent CBS interview. “It’s not fair because Bryan will never get that chance. I’m just so surprised. Andy Williams should never have that chance. It’s not like I am not a forgiving person but he took my son and he took my son’s future from him. At times all I can see in my mind is the image of Andy Williams pulling the trigger while Bryan was walking towards the door. I see that and I feel that pain. I shouldn’t have to feel this. I shouldn’t have that vision. I would do anything to save Bryan that day.”

With the parole coming close, a huge effort to get the Parole Board to deny his parole has grown. The majority of students at Santana High School that day have signed a petition urging the Board to deny his parole, with many saying that they have had problems like PTSD decades after the shooting. Lawmakers have also acted, circulating petitions of their own to urge the Board to deny Williams parole, as well as sending letters to the Board of Parole hearings. This has included Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego), whose wife’s brother was actually in the high school during the shooting itself.

I'm sending a letter urging Newsom's Parole Board to DENY early release for the Santana High School shooter.

My wife's brother was a student at Santana High School during the tragedy. This criminal murdered two students and permanently traumatized the Santee community. I find… pic.twitter.com/KAYMJfu73X

— Brian W. Jones (@SenBrianJones) September 4, 2024

“In 2001, Williams opened fire with a weapon at Santana High School, killing two students and wounding 13 others,” said Jones in his letter. “Beyond these obvious physical injuries and loss of lives, he left an entire high school traumatized and the community of Santee in continuing grief and pain. Having lived in Santee for over 40 years, I have many close friends, neighbors, and community members who were directly impacted by the horrific events that took place that day. Some of the victims have described how they still have nightmares after attending a vigil or corresponding about this topic on social media. Others have said that in public places, they subconsciously look for the exit points, in case something like this were to happen again. These are clear symptoms of trauma that victims are still dealing with today.

“What is particularly concerning about this case is that Williams had specifically vowed to ‘pull a Columbine’ when describing to his friends what he planned to do. It goes without saying that the nation was in horrific pain after Columbine, so Williams knew full well the level of horror he wanted to inflict on the students of Santana. His recent claims of remorse, and so-called recognition of the causes and effects and his actions, are simply soundbites he and his lawyer will use to try to con you in the hearing. I urge you not to be fooled.”

Jones also added that “My wife’s brother was a student at Santana High School during the tragedy. This criminal murdered two students and permanently traumatized the Santee community. I find it inconceivable that Williams would be released before even half his sentence is complete. I’m urging Governor Newsom’s parole board to keep Williams behind bars where he belongs. If you were a student at the high school during the shooting, I encourage you to sign my petition, participate in the hearing, and urge the parole board not to release the shooter early. The victims of this horrific crime deserve justice and the perpetrator should serve his full sentence.”

Legal experts told the Globe on Wednesday that the Board will likely not vote to parole Williams, and even if they do, Governor Gavin Newsom will likely step in and turn him down.

“A school shooter who killed 2 getting only 23 years is not something that ever happens, even if they were only 15 at the time,” explained legal advisor Ed Popovich to the Globe on Wednesday. “Williams will have to face his victims, victims families, law enforcement who were there. And not only that, like you said, politicians and others have been sending in letters and petitions like crazy. The one with all the former students asking to deny the parole is particularly interesting.

“There’s a little legal grounds for a parole, but practically, it is not likely going to happen. There are two murders on him. 13 injured. And then Newsom releasing him this early would look very bad on his part, especially after all his recent efforts to be harder on crime. His recent track record on denying parole to high profile criminals has been pretty high in recent years. Releasing a school shooter murderer so early with so many against it, yeah, the odds aren’t great. Even in the remote chance he does get out, Williams would be totally ostracized, getting a job would be almost impossible, and so on.

“But the question will also arise of this retraumatizing victims so soon after the shooting. These early parole hearings in California have done that to many victims, and it is happening again here.”

The parole hearing is currently set for September 10th.