By CHARLES ROMERIL
charles@du2.byu.edu
Classmates and teachers are shocked after a drive-by shooting early Sunday morning left a 16-year-old West Valley girl dead.
Michele Bartmess, the Granite School District media relations specialist, said the students are frightened because of the death of their classmate, Bethany Hyde.
Hyde was killed Sunday morning around 2 a.m.
She was with two friends in a car at the intersection of 3500 South and 2700 West. Another car pulled up beside them, and a gun was fired six times into the back seat.
Lt. Charles Illsley said Hyde was hit in the torso and was probably killed on the spot.
'Bethany was one of those sunny delight type kids who was heavily involved with dance,' Bartmess said. 'Kids are feeling really vulnerable because it's a random act of violence.'
She said a district team of psychologists arrived at Granger High School on Monday morning.
'Any teachers who needed to talk with a psychologist had an opportunity to speak with them early this morning,' Bartmess said.
Granger High School also has its own team of psychologists. Bartmess said the psychologists are there to talk with students and teachers at any time. She also said she was concerned for the children because of the fear many of them have.
'They are frightened because it is usually gang members shooting at other gang members. Now it has changed with what happened to Bethany,' Bartmess said.
She said the principal of Granger High School has told the students that if they have permission from their parents they will be allowed to attend funeral services, which will be Thursday.
Matt Bunkall, 16, the junior class president of Granger High School, said the mood at the school was a depressed one.
'I think there were quite a few people who visited the counselors,' Bunkall said.
He said the principal spoke to the student body over the loud speakers.
'The principal said how sorry he was about the incident and that the administration loves the whole student body,' Bunkall said.
Bunkall said the principal told the students the Hyde family was appreciative of the support they have received. Bunkall also said the principal is planning a fund raiser to help defray the costs of the funeral.
Bunkall said the administration is urging all the student body officers to attend the funeral.
He said, because of the incident, his own parents are more worried than they used to be.
'My parents have emphasized not to be out too late and to watch where I'm at and what I'm doing,' Bunkall said.
He said he is not any more scared than he used to be because the incident is so rare.