A small memorial lined the fence at Poway High School with the initials and lacrosse number of a teen who was shot and later died in a neighbor’s home.
Luke Lipscomb died unexpectedly Monday, more than a week after the shooting occurred, according to PHS officials. Students, faculty and neighbors attended a candlelight vigil on Monday evening in front of the school.
On Wednesday, the students also collected for prayer in the quad.
Police said the teen and his friends were possibly using hallucinogenic drugs on the night of November 4 on the 14800 block of Midland Rd. Lipscomb was shot when emergency officials arrived to the scene. He was taken to the hospital and was unconscious for several days.
Law enforcement has not released details of the shooting, or who the gun belonged to.
Last week, Lipscomb appeared to be improving. He was in stable condition Friday, and students believed he would live, said PHS Peer Counseling Coordinator Traci Barker-Ball.
On Monday, Lipscomb regained consciousness but died shortly after.
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Many of his peers wrote memories they had of the 11th grader on his Facebook wall. Many said they would miss his sense of humor and vivacious personality.
“We lost a wonderful Titan today,” said PHS Principal Scott Fisher in a statement. “Luke was a great kid who lit up a room with his smile, humor, kindness, and intelligence. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”
The PHS lacrosse team, which Lipscomb played for will dedicate their season in his honor, according to the team’s coach, Paul Sanit.
Lipscomb's death is the fourth in the past two years at the high school. In 2009, Clayton Blackburn died in his sleep and Veronica Aguirre died in a car accident. In 2010, Chelsea King was raped and murdered John Albert Gardner III. Later that year, Senior Tyler Peterson collapsed and died in his home.
