Charles Maclay Middle School is at the corner of Glenoaks Boulevard and Pierce Street in the San Fernando Valley, at the intersection of a gang injunction zone and public housing.
Two months ago, eighth-grade teacher Anthony Mize used the Homicide Report to look up a killing he'd heard about near the school, hoping it didn't involve one of his students. Thankfully, his class was fine. But the experience gave him an idea.
He had his students create card stock silhouettes for all 31 of the homicides that had occurred in Pacoima since they started school in September 2007.
Read Ken Schwencke's full report: Pacoima middle school in deadly neighborhood ».