East High mourns classmate caught in gunfire

East High School students and staff were coming together to remember a student fatally shot in Mountain View last week, during an encounter that also left another victim wounded.

The victim was identified by Anchorage police as 17-year-old Leroy Lawrence.

The Anchorage Police Department's Renee Oistad said no arrests had been made in the shooting, which took place near Irwin Street and Thompson Avenue at about 3:30 p.m. Friday. Police initially reported one victim, but the second was brought to a local hospital.

[Anchorage police investigating shooting in Mountain View]

A GoFundMe page to support Lawrence's medical costs said that Lawrence suffered spinal wounds that compounded into "multiple other life-threatening injuries." According to the page, Sunday was "the day his battle ended."

"From their loss his family has made the selfless choice to make him an organ donor so that he can provide the gift of life to numerous strangers," the page's authors wrote. "Leroy lost his life in a senseless crime, but hopefully, one day his family will be at peace knowing that his legacy and soul will live on in someone else."

It was Lawrence's 17th birthday the afternoon he was shot, according to the donation page.

East High School principal Sam Spinella said numerous counselors supported students and teachers through the school day Monday. The crisis team met with staff in the morning, and spoke with classrooms as the day began. They also offered individual counseling, which up to 200 students took advantage of, Spinella said.

The principal said he did not know Lawrence personally, but an outpouring of support from students and teachers indicates he had many connections at the school. Four teachers decided to go home for the day, he said.

Lawrence was a junior. He previously had been involved in the high school's basketball team, Spinella said.

Flowers, posters and cards expressing remembrance of Lawrence accumulated by the end of the school day. A video posted on social media Monday morning showed East High students writing condolences on a paper banner entitled "Love Leroy," and another with #LONGLIVELEROY, a hashtag friends are using on social media.

Lawrence's sisters picked up many of the student-made items and took a picture with them holding the banner, Spinella said.

Some of Lawrence's classmates reacted to the news with fear — distressed at the possibility of violence, particularly in the neighborhood where Lawrence was shot. But overall, the kids united to remember their friend, Spinella said.

"Their actions demonstrate a lot of respect for life; and maturity, a willingness to express their feelings," he said.

Lawrence's sister said the family was not yet ready to speak about the death.

Police ask anyone with information on the shooting to call APD at 907-786-8900.