Santana High School Shooter Denied Early Release By California Board Of Parole

The California Board of Parole denied the parole of the 2001 Santana High School shooter Charles Andrew Williams on Tuesday following a months long effort from lawmakers, victims and community leaders in San Diego County to keep him in prison.

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 at least 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.

The new hearing date brought a massive outcry from victims and victims families, upset that the shooter could possibly get out so early. Victims, as well as community leaders and lawmakers such as Senator Brian Jones (R-San Diego) quickly started petition drives, sending letters to the Parole Board, and other actions to get them to deny Williams’ early parole.

“I’m sending a letter urging Newsom’s Parole Board to DENY early release for the Santana High School shooter,” said Senator Jones on X earlier this month. “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. 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.”

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

On Tuesday, the Board held the parole hearing at the California Health Care Facility in Stockton. Both San Diego County Deputy District Attorney John Cross and Andy William’s attorney, Laura Sheppard, spoke for ten minutes each, with Williams also reading a prepared statement. Sheppard pressed that Williams had a troubled childhood that explained but not excused his actions, and that he was now fully rehabilitated.

After apologizing to each victim by name, Williams added in his statement that “My actions were wrong, cruel, callous, violence and wrong. The ripple effect is tremendous. There were so many people affected by this crime and continue to be affected today. I had no right to break into their lives and alter them forever. I turned their joy into fear, anger, confusion, sadness and trauma.”

However, nearly two dozen victims and family members of victims spoke afterwards in front of the Board, facing Williams for the first time as he had pled guilty and avoided a trial. Nearly all of them stated that they wanted Williams to be behind bars for the rest of his life. Mari Gordon-Rayborn, whose son was killed during William’s rampage, said that “For many years, I have been alone and homeless. I am currently living in my car. Everyone I ever loved or trusted has thrown me away. They all said they would be there to support me, but in truth I was abandoned. I have been subjected to rapes, kidnappings, attempts on my life, assaults, hopelessness, loneliness, hunger, and all of the other horrors that comes with living on the streets. I suffer from numerous chronic physical and medical conditions, including severe PTSD. I attribute all of the above to the murder of my son.