San Diego, California – Brenda Spencer, known for a deadly school shooting in 1979, is up for parole for the seventh time. Spencer’s horrific act left two adults dead and eight children injured at Grover Cleveland Elementary School in San Diego.
The tragic event unfolded on January 29, 1979, when Spencer opened fire at the elementary school from her San Carlos home with a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle. She fired 36 rounds, killing the school’s principal and custodian, and injuring eight students and a police officer.
During a standoff with the police that lasted over six hours, Spencer continued to fire at anything that moved, preventing authorities from entering her home. She infamously responded to a reporter’s question during the standoff, stating, “I don’t like Mondays. This livens up the day.”
Survivors of the shooting, like Cam Miller, continue to advocate against Spencer’s release, believing that she remains a danger to the community. Miller recalled the horrifying sight of the bodies of the principal and custodian, experiencing a bullet that narrowly missed his heart during the rampage.
Spencer, who was sentenced to two consecutive life terms at the age of 18, has maintained over the years that she was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time of the shooting. Despite claiming to have hallucinated due to substance use, Spencer’s actions that day have left a lasting impact on the survivors and the community.
As Spencer faces another parole hearing, scheduled roughly 46 years after the tragic event, concerns remain about the potential implications of her release. Miller, among others, fears the unknown consequences of Spencer reentering society, emphasizing the need for her to remain incarcerated.
In a 1993 interview, Spencer expressed a desire for a “normal life” if released, highlighting her youth at the time of her imprisonment. However, the survivors and community continue to grapple with the trauma caused by Spencer’s actions, emphasizing the importance of accountability and justice in her case.
