Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Hilltop Heritage students voice safety concerns following lockdowns prompted by 'Kia Boyz'
3 views
Skip to first unread message
Leroy N. Soetoro
Dec 1, 2023, 4:21:06 PM12/1/23
to
https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/tacoma/hilltop-heritage-students-
safety-concerns-lockdowns-kia-boyz/281-df1e9a9e-f119-4773-9152-
df201357c1cf
TACOMA, Wash. — Students from Hilltop Heritage Middle School in Tacoma are
speaking out after their school went into modified lockdown twice on
Friday. The lockdowns were caused by a group called the “Kia Boyz,” who
the Tacoma Police Department (TPD) said are stealing cars and threatening
people with guns.
Police said Friday morning the group of kids and young adults were driving
recklessly in a stolen car, almost hitting people on sidewalks. The group
made their way to Hilltop Heritage Middle School.
“Everybody was like crowding to the windows, which I don't think is the
best thing to do, because if they do shoot you, you're dead. They're going
to break the glass,” said Akeelah Simmons, a seventh grade student at
Hilltop.
Akeelah’s younger sister and cousin, who are in the fifth grade, were at
Hilltop that morning for a band class at the school.
“I found one of Akeelah's friends and I said, ‘What's going on?’ She said,
‘The Kia Boyz are here.’ And I said, ‘Okay, well, what am I supposed to
do?’ She said, ‘You can come up with me,’” said Angelle Devone, a fifth
grade student who went to hide in a classroom.
Tacoma police said when the group was asked to leave the school property
by a Tacoma Public Schools patrol officer, they pointed a gun at the
patrol officer multiple times and threatened to shoot them.
Kids at the school, like Akeelah and fellow seventh grader Georgiana
Campbell, said it not only disrupts learning, but that they fear for their
lives.
“We are scared to go to school because we don't want to get shot, like we
don't want it to escalate any further,” said Georgiana.
Akeelah said she has experienced around a total of nine modified and
normal lockdowns at her school this year due to the Kia Boyz.
“If the Kia Boyz didn't come today, they're probably going to come
tomorrow because it's like, we think it's normal now,” said Akeelah.
These students said they feel more needs to be done to protect them.
“I just want more security, more police officers here,” said Akeelah.
Tacoma police said they are investigating a few of the people associated
with the Kia Boyz and had this message for kids and parents who are
concerned:
“We are going to do everything that we can working with the local public
schools, working with other elements of the criminal justice system to do
what we can to hold individuals accountable for crimes that they commit,”
said Detective and Public Information Officer William Muse.
The people involved in these incidents at the school are not yet in
custody.
Tacoma Public Schools works in partnership with Tacoma Police Department,
said Kathryn McCarthy of Tacoma Public Schools.
"We are working with our schools and partners to do all we can to mitigate
disruption to instructional time," she said.
When a situation warrants school staff to call police, officers respond
and investigate crimes, McCarthy said, adding that the incidents of
erratic driving are not isolated to Hilltop Heritage and are happening
throughout the county.
For now, these girls are calling on city leaders to do something to make
them feel more safe at school.
“We feel like people in higher positions aren't doing enough about it and
are putting our lives at risk,” said Georgiana.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers, where they can
stay anonymous, or call the South Sound 911 non-emergency line at 253-287-
4455.
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
safety-concerns-lockdowns-kia-boyz/281-df1e9a9e-f119-4773-9152-
df201357c1cf
TACOMA, Wash. — Students from Hilltop Heritage Middle School in Tacoma are
speaking out after their school went into modified lockdown twice on
Friday. The lockdowns were caused by a group called the “Kia Boyz,” who
the Tacoma Police Department (TPD) said are stealing cars and threatening
people with guns.
Police said Friday morning the group of kids and young adults were driving
recklessly in a stolen car, almost hitting people on sidewalks. The group
made their way to Hilltop Heritage Middle School.
“Everybody was like crowding to the windows, which I don't think is the
best thing to do, because if they do shoot you, you're dead. They're going
to break the glass,” said Akeelah Simmons, a seventh grade student at
Hilltop.
Akeelah’s younger sister and cousin, who are in the fifth grade, were at
Hilltop that morning for a band class at the school.
“I found one of Akeelah's friends and I said, ‘What's going on?’ She said,
‘The Kia Boyz are here.’ And I said, ‘Okay, well, what am I supposed to
do?’ She said, ‘You can come up with me,’” said Angelle Devone, a fifth
grade student who went to hide in a classroom.
Tacoma police said when the group was asked to leave the school property
by a Tacoma Public Schools patrol officer, they pointed a gun at the
patrol officer multiple times and threatened to shoot them.
Kids at the school, like Akeelah and fellow seventh grader Georgiana
Campbell, said it not only disrupts learning, but that they fear for their
lives.
“We are scared to go to school because we don't want to get shot, like we
don't want it to escalate any further,” said Georgiana.
Akeelah said she has experienced around a total of nine modified and
normal lockdowns at her school this year due to the Kia Boyz.
“If the Kia Boyz didn't come today, they're probably going to come
tomorrow because it's like, we think it's normal now,” said Akeelah.
These students said they feel more needs to be done to protect them.
“I just want more security, more police officers here,” said Akeelah.
Tacoma police said they are investigating a few of the people associated
with the Kia Boyz and had this message for kids and parents who are
concerned:
“We are going to do everything that we can working with the local public
schools, working with other elements of the criminal justice system to do
what we can to hold individuals accountable for crimes that they commit,”
said Detective and Public Information Officer William Muse.
The people involved in these incidents at the school are not yet in
custody.
Tacoma Public Schools works in partnership with Tacoma Police Department,
said Kathryn McCarthy of Tacoma Public Schools.
"We are working with our schools and partners to do all we can to mitigate
disruption to instructional time," she said.
When a situation warrants school staff to call police, officers respond
and investigate crimes, McCarthy said, adding that the incidents of
erratic driving are not isolated to Hilltop Heritage and are happening
throughout the county.
For now, these girls are calling on city leaders to do something to make
them feel more safe at school.
“We feel like people in higher positions aren't doing enough about it and
are putting our lives at risk,” said Georgiana.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers, where they can
stay anonymous, or call the South Sound 911 non-emergency line at 253-287-
4455.
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
0 new messages