As students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) prepare to return to class next week, a new tool is available from ABC 7 for parents to assess safety concerns.
The “7 On Your Side” map allows parents to look up instances of gunfire reported near their child’s school. According to data from the Gun Violence Archive and the U.S. Department of Education, provided by the Gun Violence Data Hub, 353 LAUSD campuses—about 45% of schools—experienced at least one “school-adjacent shooting” in the past two years.
The map reveals that over the past decade, gunfire was recorded within 500 yards of 80% of district campuses. A “school-adjacent shooting” is defined as any gunshot detected within this range, regardless of the time of day. Areas like South Los Angeles show clusters of gunfire, with schools such as 75th Street Elementary School reporting 50 nearby shootings in the past 10 years, resulting in 40 injuries and 27 deaths.
Marc Maye, who runs Project Blue, an organization connecting inner-city youth with police, highlighted the challenges students face. “We’re asking them to go into the classroom and learn with a clear mind,” he said, emphasizing the difficulty when students are fearful of external violence.
Despite these challenges, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell noted a positive trend, stating that homicides are down 15% in Los Angeles this year. He emphasized the importance of enforcement and ensuring students’ safe passage to and from school.
Recent Comments