Culver City Leaders respond to shootings impacting School Community

Local leaders held a press conference Wednesday morning in response to two recent gun violence incidents impacting the Culver City community. With the cameras of local TV news outlets filling the Madeline Ehrlich Boardroom at the Culver City Unified School District Main Office, city figures reinforced their urgency to maintain a safe learning environment in Culver City schools.

Chyler Paton, 17, was tragically shot at a pool party in Torrance last Wednesday, just days after graduating from Culver City High School, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

On the evening of Tuesday, June 24, an estimated 200 to 300 people gathered on the Culver City High School Jerry Chabola Stadium football field for a candlelight vigil in Paton's honor. At approximately 7:50 p.m., approximately 20 minutes after the vigil was scheduled to end, the Culver City Police Department responded to a call of shots fired in the area.

No injuries have been reported related to the incident. An arrest was made near the school due to the illegal possession of a loaded firearm, but police concluded that the suspect was not involved in the incident.

CCPD Police Chief Jason Sims and spokesperson Jennifer Atenza shared some preliminary details about the incident, but the investigation is still ongoing.

"Upon arrival, our officers confirmed that a fight had occurred during the event, which then led to a shooting," Sims said. "At this time, thankfully, we do not believe that anyone was struck by the gunfire nor injured at the scene."

"People scattered when they heard gunfire," Atenza said. "Those who remained were held in a containment area until about 11:30 p.m."

Culver City Unified School District Board of Education President Triston Ezidore led remarks at the press conference, offering his condolences to Paton's loved ones. The candlelight vigil was held at the same time as a Board of Education meeting, so Ezidore and other board members were not present.

"Our hearts go out to Chyler's family, his teammates, and every person touched by this senseless violence," Ezidore said. "Our community is mourning not only a young life lost, but a loss of peace and safety."

Ezidore explained that district and city leaders have been working with school safety teams, public safety partners, and community leaders to coordinate a prompt and meaningful response to support those impacted by the incidents.

"This is the kind of intra-city collaboration our communities demand and require in this moment," Ezidore said. "We are working closely across agencies to implement real, lasting violence prevention strategies — from community-based intervention and mental health supports to school-to-home coordination and neighborhood safety planning.

Superintendent Dr. Brian Lucas emphasized that the District employs proactive safety strategies, including expanded mental health supports, trauma-informed training, and partnerships with providers like CCPD.

"At Culver City Unified, the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority," Lucas said. "While our schools remain safe, they are not immune to the broader challenges impacting youth across the nation —including rising mental health needs, the influence of social media, and increased exposure to violence."

Lucas also talked about the importance of community support in addressing the issues mentioned and their impact on children outside of school grounds.

"We need families, mental health providers, and community leaders to join us in addressing root causes and ensuring every student is supported," Lucas said.

District officials expressed their confidence that the Culver City Unified School District is a safe one for students, pointing to broader national issues as the cause of these incidents rather than locally concentrated problems.  

"Let me be clear: our schools are safe," Ezidore stated. "The threat is the guns — in our neighborhoods, in our public spaces, and far too often in the hands of young people."  

Culver City Mayor Dan O'Brien showed his support for and confidence in CCUSD's efforts to foster a safe learning environment, noting his wife was teaching summer classes in Culver City as O'Brien gave his remarks.

"She's working about 200 feet away from here right now," O'Brien said of his wife. "I know from her experience how well our school district works to protect and provide an environment that is safe and welcoming for all."

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Culver City Police Public Information Officer Jennifer Atenza at 310-253-6120 or jennifer.atenza@culvercity.org.