School Board Confronted Over Slaying
- Share via
RIO LINDA, Calif. — Angry and grief-stricken parents, students and teachers flooded a school board meeting Sunday to ask why a suspected gang member arrested in the slaying of an 18-year-old student was hired as a custodian.
Substitute janitor and parolee Alex Del Thomas was in custody after the slaying of Michelle Montoya on Friday at Rio Linda High School north of Sacramento. She was found with her throat slit in the school’s wood shop.
Sheriff’s officials described Thomas as a parolee and known member of the 107th Street Hoover Crips gang in Los Angeles. He used makeup to hide a “107” tattoo on his forehead when he applied for work and on the job, officials said.
Many parents demanded that the board institute policy changes, but seemed unimpressed with board members’ promises to act.
School officials throughout the region said it is common practice to allow new employees to begin work weeks or months before criminal history checks are completed.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
