Teen fatally shot near high school mourned

CONCORD >> Through their hugs and tears, the grief gripping Lawrence Janson’s family was palpable Tuesday on the campus of Olympic Continuation High School.

They weren’t alone. Some students cried. Others stood together staring blankly at candles and pictures, and into the sky on the crisp fall morning.

The question on everyone’s mind: Why would anyone have targeted 17-yearold Janson?

Concord police announced Tuesday evening that they had booked five people on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Concord police Lt. Nick Gartner did not share the names or ages of the suspects out of concern that spreading the information would interfere with the ongoing investigation, but he confirmed that the group was a mix of adults and juveniles and that the shooter is an adult. Police are still interviewing suspects and witnesses. A motive for the killing was unclear.

All five suspects are males from Concord, Gartner said.

Police also recovered the weapon used in the homicide — a handgun — and the car the suspects were driving.

“He was a good kid,” Janson’s father, Raul Bravo, said Tuesday morning through tears. “As far as we knew, hewas liked by everybody. He loved sports. This is just the most agonizing feeling.”

Flowers and candles lined the sidewalk in front of the school entrance Tuesday morning, and a large picture of Janson hung from a chain- link fence. Janson, a senior, was in his first semester at the school, Bravo said, after spending time at Mount Diablo High and struggling with grades.

“He wrestled over at Mount Diablo for a bit before he came here,” Bravo said. “He played West Pittsburg Youth Football. He always loved sports. He was beginning to understand life.”

Grief counselors and a crisis team from the Mount Diablo Unified School District were at the campus to help the staff and students.

“Everybody’s mainly just really sad,” Principal Lynsie Castellano said. “They had a vigil here last night, and we’re just tending to what everybody’s needs are today, not just for the students, for the staff, too. We’re also working very closely with the family. This has been a traumatic experience for everyone involved.”

Police have said that a suspect in a four- door black sedan got out of the car and shot Janson as he stood among a group of people near the corner of Salvio and Beach streets around 1:30 p.m. Monday. The school, which was not in session at the time of the shooting, is at 2730 Salvio St.

Janson ran back onto the campus after the shooting, where he collapsed andwas treated by school staff and emergency responders, according to police. An ambulance rushed Janson to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

“I don’t know why this would happen,” Bravo said. “Young kids today are nothing but punks. They handle their stuff with guns. They’re cowards.”

Students on the campus were kept there until about 3 p.m. after police locked down the campus after the shooting, Castellano said.

The others in the group hanging out with Janson scattered and were not injured.

Police are looking for witnesses, and ask anyone who saw the shooting to call the Concord Police Department at 925- 671-3333.