SANTEE, Calif. — Andy Williams’ parole board hearing will take place Tuesday morning at the state prison in Stockton where he is currently serving his sentence.
Several people who were on campus in 2001 when he opened fire at Santana High School are planning to speak, including Kristen Dare, who was a junior when it happened.
As the sound of gunshots rang out at Santana High School, Kristen thought it was a simulation program for seniors.
“I actually walked towards the shooter thinking that it wasn't real,” she said. Dare was just 16 years old that day.
While walking to her next class, she spotted a campus security aid on the ground.
“When I approached him, I saw that the back of his shirt was soaked in blood and that's when I think I realized it was real,” Dare said. As she and a friend quickly ran off campus, panic was hitting the school. “There were so may students running and grabbing other students and falling and tripping and just a lot mayhem.”
Andy Williams eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, 13 counts of attempted murder, and was sentenced to 50 years to live behind bars.
Those on campus that day thought they'd never have to deal with him again, but then, several years later, California's law changed saying anyone who committed a crime when they were 25 years of age or younger is automatically provided a parole hearing no later than their 25th year of incarceration.
Williams was 15 when he committed the murders and he's been behind bars for 23 years.
Dare will be one of several people speaking at Williams’ parole hearing Tuesday.
“I don't know if I'll just speak from the heart tomorrow or if I'll put something together tonight to collect my thoughts a little bit better,” she said. While she doesn't know exactly how she'll say it, she does know the message she wants to get across: Williams needs to stay behind bars.
Dare mentioned a recent CBS 8 story about Randy Gordon's mother. She became homeless after her son was killed and remains on the streets today.
“When you see things like that and understand that we're still living with a lot of this on a daily basis, it just doesn't seem fair that he's out and amongst us in the public," Dare said.
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