Luvelle Kennon, 27

Riverside, California
October 31, 2017

Agencies: Riverside Police Department California

Cause of death: Not Yet Known


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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

27 year-old Luvelle Kennon was killed following a lengthy police standoff during which he held a teacher hostage at his daughter's elementary school in Riverside, California.

The incident began unfolding at Castleview Elementary School around 11:15 a.m. Tuesday and lasted at least six hours as officials attempted to negotiate with the man, the Riverside Police Department said in a press release.

Kennon had a daughter in the first grade who he was coming to pick up when the violence unfolded, according to Justin Grayson, a public information officer for the Riverside Unified School District.

He apparently flouted visitor protocol and forced himself onto the campus, then became upset and barricaded himself inside the classroom.

Kennon's behavior before he showed up at the school had already been raising concern among family members Tuesday morning. Upon his arrival school officials had been warned they may want to call law enforcement, Grayson said.

“There’s just not much you can do when someone overpowers their way through the office staff,” he added.

Kennon made his way to his daughter's classroom, where he thought she would be; however, the students were out at lunch.

It's still not clear exactly why Kennon next chose to escalate the matter into a hostage situation. Grayson said he had not been a problem parent in the past.

The incident prompted a hefty law enforcement response including a SWAT team, bomb squad and crisis negotiators.

Kennon was shot when police "entered the classroom to rescue the teacher," a Riverside Police Department news release stated. It's not clear exactly what prompted the gunfire.

Police did not say Wednesday that Kennon was armed.

Detectives are looking into a bag Kennon apparently had with him when he arrived at the school.