Latest news with #JesseFigueroa
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Family of slain Spartan College Inglewood administrator files wrongful death lawsuit against school
The family of the slain dean of Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology - Inglewood has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the school, alleging that the school failed to perform a simple background check before he was employed. Jesse Figueroa, 40, is facing multiple felony charges, including murder, after he allegedly opened fire on campus May 2, leaving one woman dead, Dr. Cameisha Clark, and another injured. The 35-year-old Clark had recently been promoted to Interim Dean of Student Affairs at Spartan College when she was shot and killed by Figueroa, according to her family's attorney. Shortly after the shooting, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts said Clark and her receptionist were targeted by Figueroa. "He was a current employee at the college ... had some disagreement about something he felt that the dean had done," Butts said, emphasizing that the incident was not random but targeted workplace violence." Now, Clark's family is suing Spartan College, Figueroa and a pair of security companies. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, looks to answer questions as to who employed Figueroa. Spartan College denies that he was a direct employee of the school, and instead claims he was working for another company that the school contracted. The suit lists two companies that could have employed Figueroa. Figueroa shouldn't have been employed by one of those companies in the first place had a simple background check been performed, the suit alleges. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office identified him as a convicted felon, which attorneys say stem from a 2007 robbery incident. "How does a six-time felon get hired as a security guard," said Chris Stewart, an attorney representing Clark's family. "And most importantly, who does Mr. Figueroa work for?" The suit also claims that Figueroa's security license has been expired for 14 years, but it wasn't checked by the school or the two listed companies. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of negligent hiring and supervision, negligent security, premises liability, wrongful death and negligent infliction of emotional distress, among other claims. Figueroa is scheduled to appear in court for his criminal case on Thursday.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Family of CAU alumna to file lawsuit against Los Angeles college where she was shot, killed
The family of a woman who was shot and killed by a security guard on the campus of Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Los Angeles in May is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the school, the shooting suspect, and other parties. Police say Dr. Cameisha Clark, a graduate of Clark Atlanta University, who had recently been promoted to Interim Dean of Student Affairs at Spartan College, was attacked in the college's administrative offices on May 2 by campus security guard Jesse Figueroa. Police say Figueroa shot Clark and a co-worker with a handgun. Figueroa ran after the shooting but was captured by police hours later. Clark was taken to a hospital, where she died from her injuries. Her co-worker survived the shooting. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Figueroa has been charged with murder, attempted murder, possession of a firearm with prior violent convictions, and possession of a firearm by a felon with prior convictions. The family's complaint alleges that neither Spartan College nor the security company they hired did a background check that would have revealed Figueroa's criminal history. Clark's family says Figueroa's security guard license had expired nearly 14 years earlier, and neither the school nor the security company checked his license. TRENDING STORIES: 'I miss my community': Acquitted of rape, former Cherokee County teacher wants his job back Child at preschool eats kratom, needs to be revived, police say 'Not aggressive:' Clayton County family upset after officer shoots neighbor's dog to death [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Beautiful college dean, 35, dies after horrific act of 'workplace violence' by male colleague
A much-loved college dean has been killed in a crazed shooting, allegedly at the hands of a campus security guard who also injured another woman during the bloodshed. Jesse Figueroa, 40, shot Cameisha Denise Clark, 35, at the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Inglewood close to Los Angeles on Friday. Clark died from a gunshot wound in hospital on Monday, while another woman was treated for injuries. The shooting was described by the mayor as targeted. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said Figueroa has been charged with murder and attempted murder over the horrific incident. Figueroa also faces several further counts for possessing a firearm as a felon. He is due to appear in court May 29 and could face life in jail if convicted. Inglewood Mayor James Butts said the tragedy appeared to be an incident of 'workplace violence', but charging documents did not lay out a possible motive. '(Figueroa) was a current employee at the college... he had some disagreement about something he felt that the dean had done,' Butts added. Clark's family said she had been recently promoted to dean at the school. 'Cameisha uplifted everyone fortunate enough to cross her path,' her family said in a statement to KNBC. 'Her leadership, integrity, and deep sense of purpose helped shape futures of countless students from the campus of Clark Atlanta University to Spartan College. 'She believed in the potential of others even when they could not yet see it in themselves.' Social media was flooded with tributes to the well-liked dean. Friends remembered her as 'always smiling, always kind' and a 'girls' girl'. 'You couldn't find a single person with a bad word to say about her, because there wasn't one. She was that person,' one friend wrote on Facebook. 'The one who did everything right. She gave life everything she had, worked hard, loved harder, and still got taken from us.' Clark earned her doctoral degree with a 3.9 GPA, according to the friend, before landing her 'dream job' at the California college 'far from her home' in Atlanta. 'That's not easy and she did it with grace,' her friend wrote. 'And now she's gone? It's not fair. It's not right. I'm furious. I'm shattered.' Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said the Figueroa had previous convictions, though they did not reveal what they were. District Attorney Hochman condemned the rampage as a 'horrific act of gun violence' which shook the close-knit college. 'Any student, faculty member or employee should feel safe and secure going to school,' he said in a statement. 'This horrific act of gun violence has shaken Spartan College and our entire community. 'We will file all appropriate gun enhancements in this case and send a clear message to criminals that violence will not be tolerated in Los Angeles County.' Figueroa was pictured during his arrest, wearing a white t-shirt and black jeans. It's not known whether cops snared him or if he surrendered.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Clark Atlanta University to establish scholarship in honor of slain alumna
'It's very unfortunate that we have lost one of ours,' Aaron Wells, the Director of Finance at Clark Atlanta University, told Channel 2's Audrey Washington on Wednesday. News of the tragedy made its way around the Clark Atlanta University campus on Wednesday. 'I do think it is very devastating,' Clark Atlanta University Senior, Colleen Reddick said. This week the CAU community learned one of their own, Dr. Cameisha Clark died in an on-campus shooting, across the country. Police in Los Angeles, California, said Jesse Figueroa shot and killed Dr. Clark on Friday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The shooting, according to police, happened on the campus of Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology - Inglewood Campus. That's the same college where Dr. Clark served as dean. 'We believe it occurred in an office inside the school. We believe it's a workplace violence-related incident,' said one official. Police said Figueroa used to work at the college as a security guard. They said that on Friday, he returned to the college in security clothes and opened fire on Dr. Clark and her assistant. The assistant survived. Investors called the incident a targeted, execution style shooting. The motive is still unclear. 'Tragic, and it shows you how important life is,' Wells added. TRENDING STORIES: Dr. Clark obtained her bachelor's, master's, and educational doctorate from Clark Atlanta University. Leaders at Clark Atlanta University said they will honor Dr. Clark at an upcoming service, and they plan to establish a scholarship in Dr. Clark's name. 'Dr. Cameisha Clark exemplified the Panther spirit. She lived with purpose, led with heart, and leaves behind a legacy that will continue to uplift and inspire the CAU Nation for generations to come,' CAU'S President Dr. George T. French, Jr. wrote in a statement. 'I think it's a great idea because it's honoring her legacy and what she stood for,' Reddick said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
College dean killed in campus shooting described as 'radiant, joyful.' Security guard charged
The security guard usually arrived at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology to the sound of planes roaring overhead. He began his shift later in the day at the campus near Los Angeles International Airport, according to students, and wore a blue, collared shirt as part of his uniform. But on Friday, the guard, later identified as 40-year-old Jesse Figueroa, was allegedly armed with a handgun that he used to shoot two women — one of them fatally, authorities said. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office charged Figueroa on Tuesday with murder, attempted murder, possession of a firearm with prior violent convictions and possession of a firearm by a felon with prior convictions. Read more: Security guard held in shooting of two coworkers at Spartan College in Inglewood The victims, both employees at the college, were shot inside an administrative building, authorities say. One woman — who was wounded but survived — worked in the admissions office. The other was Cameisha Clark, who had recently been promoted to dean of student affairs, according to her family. Arriving officers found the two wounded women breathing and still conscious. They were taken to local hospitals while police searched the campus for the shooter. Figueroa fled the scene in his car and was taken into custody less than three hours later in Koreatown, authorities say. One shooting victim remains in the hospital. But Clark died from her injuries Monday at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, according to her family. She was 35. Clark arrived in California several years ago to further her career, according to her family, who called her a trailblazer and inspiration. "Cameisha was the most compassionate, loving and fiercely loyal person," her family said in a statement. "She was a radiant, joyful, driven, and compassionate woman who touched countless lives across the country from her hometown of Atlanta, GA, to LA." Her family said her legacy should not be defined by her death but "by the extraordinary way she lived." Clark earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and her master's degree and educational doctorate in higher education from Clark Atlanta University, according to the school, which recently featured her in an "alumni spotlight" post on social media. "Cameisha uplifted everyone fortunate enough to cross her path," her family said. "Her leadership, integrity, and deep sense of purpose helped shape futures of countless students from the campus of Clark Atlanta University to Spartan College. She believed in the potential of others even when they could not yet see it in themselves." Read more: 2 women critically injured in shooting at Spartan College in Inglewood; suspect in custody Authorities confirmed Figueroa worked as a security guard for a third-party company at the Inglewood campus, but have not revealed a possible motive. Inglewood Mayor James Butts called the episode an act of "workplace violence" and not a random shooting. Spartan College Campus President Chris Becker said the school is cooperating with the investigation. "We are deeply saddened and upset by what transpired," Becker said over the weekend, adding that counseling services and support were being arranged for students and staff. On Wednesday, there was little indication of the shooting from outside the college property. School officials would not say whether there was a memorial on the campus to honor the shooting victims. Students said they saw Clark on campus from time to time and she would say hello as they made their way between the industrial buildings. "It's really tragic," a student who identified himself only as Hector said from the sidewalk outside the administrative building. Since the shooting, security has increased at the campus and classes remain in session, other students said. Figueroa was convicted of robbery in 2007, records show. He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and making a criminal threat in the same case, but those charges were dismissed due to a plea deal, according to court records. Prosecutors allege Figueroa used a handgun to cause great bodily injury or death. Gun sentencing enhancements carry an additional penalty of 25 years to life in state prison for each offense. 'Any student, faculty member or employee should feel safe and secure going to school,' Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said in a statement announcing the charges. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
