East High Exchange Student Who Allegedly Pulled Gun Won't Be Expelled, But Transferred
By Stan Bush
DENVER (CBS4) - Denver Public Schools has decided the student who caused a lockdown with a BB gun will not be expelled.
Elhadji Samba Dioum allegedly showed a BB gun to another student in the parking lot and demanded $10 on Dec. 3. But the incident was apparently a joke. Dioum is an exchange student from Senegal and said he didn't understand the severity of his actions.
"Understanding the reaction or seeing the reaction to what was a joke has been hard for him to understand or even appreciate," said Robert Blume, Dioum's attorney.
Dioum was charged with felony menacing but after the incident prosecutors were overwhelmed by letters of support from parents of other East High School students who attested for his character. Dioum is a star basketball player and an accomplished student. College basketball programs in and out of Colorado hope Dioum will join them after graduation.
"You can try to teach sensitivity and you can try to teach kids who come from other countries how to assimilate, but there are some things that are so deeply embedded that they can't be taught they have to be experienced," said Blume.
DPS chose to transfer Dioum to the Contemporary Learning Academy to finish his credits. He will still be allowed to play basketball for East, but he cannot take classes there.
"They were concerned generally about the safety of the community and the interaction for the victim," said Blume.
Dioum's attorney says they may still appeal the DPS decision. The criminal case against Dioum is still pending.
Stan Bush is a general assignment reporter at CBS4. His stories can be seen on CBS4 News at 10. Read his bio and follow him on Twitter @StanBushTV.