SCHOOL  SHOOTING  VICTIM

In 1979, school shootings were not unheard of but were never-the-less an infrequent occurrence.  On January 29, 1979, a school shooting occurred in San Diego, California, which received national attention when shots were heard at a small elementary school attended by only 319 students, 13 teachers, and six support staff.  Directly across the street from the school’s entrance a young 16-year old girl lived with her father.  The home was less than 50-feet from the entrance .  As the students commenced to arrive for their studies the girl commenced firing a rifle toward the school from her home’s front door.  The school principal was standing in the vestibule, welcoming the children and maintaining order, when two shots were heard.  The principal rushed outside and was immediately hit in the shoulder by a bullet and then again in the chest, spinning him around and knocking him into a small ivy garden.  Michael J. Suchar, the head custodian, unaware of or indifferent to the deadliness of the sniper fire, came outside with a blanket to cover the principal to keep him from going into shock.  He leaned over the principal and almost immediately two bullets hit him, knocking him to the ground.  Within minutes police arrived, the principal was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died on the operating table.  Custodian Suchar was pronounced dead on arrival.

Before the girl was taken into custody by the police after a SWAT operation lasting over six hours, she fired 36-rounds, killing two adults, injuring a police officer who survived and eight children.  Asked why she had started shooting the girl said, “I just don’t like Mondays.  I did this because it’s a way to cheer up the day.  Nobody likes Mondays.”  Michael Suchar had no children and was survived by his wife.  Acquaintances advised that although Suchar and the principal did not always get along well, that day when the principal was felled, Suchar did not hesitate to run out and try to help.  Suchar reportedly worked as a part-time custodian while studying at San Diego State University.  A friend said, “All I can think was, his military training kicked in.  It’s your comrade and you assist him.”  Suchar had been in the Seabees during World War II and emerged with no battle wounds.  Years later the principal’s granddaughter said, “My grandfather and the janitor threw themselves at the kids that were being shot at that morning, to save their lives, and in the process, lost their own.  I may not have grown up with a grandpa, but many children grew up to have their own families.”

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)