PORT ORCHARD, Wash. – The Bremerton School District has agreed to pay $900,000 to the family of a student who was critically wounded in a 2012 shooting at Armin Jahr Elementary School.

In February 2012, a .45-caliber handgun discharged in a male student’s backpack, shooting Amina Kocer-Bowman, shattering her elbow and damaging her internal organs before lodging in her spine, Kitsap Sun reports.

The victim spent more than a month in the hospital undergoing multiple surgeries.

Kocer-Bowman’s classmate took the weapon from Doug Bauer, his mother’s then-boyfriend, while on a visit. He claimed he brought the gun to school because he was fearful of other students.

The student made a plea agreement with prosecutors, taking responsibility for bringing the gun to campus. He agreed to a year of court-supervised probation, and was banned from attending school in Bremerton or any other local districts. The boy has since fulfilled terms of the deal.

Meanwhile Bauer, who also served as a defendant on the suit, will pay $300,000.

The family said the bulk of the settlement will go toward Kocer-Bowman’s long-term medical and psychological care, as well as her special education needs as a result of the shooting.

The district says that no policies have been made as a direct result of the shooting; however, it does regularly conduct safety drills to enable school staff to respond quickly and effectively to an emergency.

 

If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!

Related Content