Fresno Unified School District sued over shooting at Edison High

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A teacher who was shot at Edison High School last year is now suing Fresno Unified over locks, lights, and a comment from Superintendent Michael Hanson.

The night of Dec. 19 was a nightmare for Steven Guerrero and almost a year later, he's still living it. Police say five teenagers met no resistance as they walked onto a school campus and attacked.

"They entered an unlocked door at Edison High School where there was a struggle with a weapon," said defense attorney Gerald Schwab.

Guerrero was bludgeoned with a dumbbell and shot before he wrestled the gun away from one of the boys. The attack put a spotlight on campus safety, or lack thereof.

"It could be any campus," said ABC30 legal analyst Tony Capozzi. "I mean, if you're there working after hours, and with the crime that's been occurring with these gangs -- and from what I understand, this was a gang initiation -- you know, teachers are in danger."

Police eventually caught four teens and charged them with crimes that could lead to life sentences.

And now Guerrero has filed a lawsuit against Fresno Unified, claiming negligence. It says the unlocked and open doors, and the lack of lighting on campus made it easy for the culprits to attack Guerrero.

Schwab represents one of the boys and has seen video from Edison.

"You could see five people walking around, however, you can't really make out who it is which denotes there wasn't really any specific lighting," he said.

Students and parents tell Action News the school has since added security and lighting, and established new protocol for staff on campus after hours.

Guerrero returned to work shortly after the crime, after surgery to remove a bullet. And as his nightmare played out at the hospital, Fresno Unified Superintendent Michael Hanson came to see him, even before his wife got into his room.

Guerrero's wife says when Hanson came out, he told her he had "bad news", then called her husband a knucklehead for defending himself and school property.

"Calling him a knucklehead for going after the gun, I'm not sure was the right thing to say," Capozzi said. "Clearly, he's defending himself. What else could he do? If he had not gone after that gun, he may be dead today."

Hanson was unavailable for comment Tuesday, but a spokesperson told us "all of his actions that night were intended to support Mr. Guerrero and his family."

Now, he may have to defend his actions in court.