Girl sentenced in school shooting - Elizabeth C. Bush - Brief Article

National Catholic Reporter, April 20, 2001

An apologetic Elizabeth C. Bush was given an open-ended sentence to a juvenile psychiatric facility April 4 after pleading guilty to having shot a classmate at Bishop Neumann High School in Williamsport March 7.

Bush, 14, was tried as a juvenile on the recommendation of all parties, including the family of Kimberly Marchese, the girl wounded in the shoulder in the lunch-hour shooting in the school cafeteria (NCR, March 23).

"I just want to say I'm sorry for everything I've done to you," Bush told Marchese during the hearing in Lycoming County Court. Marchese, also 14, attended the court session with her arm in a sling.

Among the shooting cases in U.S. schools in recent years, the one in Williamsport was the first in which the shooter was a girl.

Bishop Neumann High School, which has about 230 students in grades 7-12, is one of nine Catholic high schools in the Scranton diocese. Marchese and Bush were in the eighth grade.

Bush pleaded guilty to attempted homicide, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and several other charges.

Judge William S. Kieser said he agreed with Lycoming County District Attorney Thomas Marino that she was a threat to others but could benefit from treatment.

Under the terms of the sentence, Bush could be held in the behavioral health service unit of New Morgan Academy near Reading until she is 21 and could undergo further detention in an adult facility after that.

Kieser said she cannot be released or her status downgraded without another court hearing. He ordered her and her parents to reimburse the Marchese family for all medical and other expenses incurred as a result of the shooting.

Retired firefighter Michael Marchese, Kimberly's father, told the court that his daughter still has bullet fragments in her arm and therapists do not know how long it will take for her to regain full range of motion.

He said his daughter suffers sleepless nights and emotional problems from the incident and attends weekly therapy sessions.

Under questioning, Bush told the judge she intended to scare Kimberly Marchese and other classmates because they teased and taunted her, but she did not intend to shoot her. She said she intended to shoot herself.

Citing statements Bush made to police and notes written by her before the shooting, Kieser said he did not find that explanation credible. "I find that you intentionally sought her out and intentionally sought to cause her death," he said.

Michael Marchese said he and his family were pleased by the judge's decision. "I said from the beginning I didn't think she should be tried as an adult," he said.

Scranton diocesan communications director Maria Orzel said neither the diocese nor the school had any comment on the court decision.

The shooting took place only seven hours before Kimberly Marchese was scheduled to be confirmed by Scranton Bishop James C. Timlin at Mater Dolorosa Church in Williamsport. Timlin telephoned her in the hospital before the service and assured her that there were other confirmation services coming up soon that she could participate in.

Orzel said Auxiliary Bishop John M. Dougherty confirmed her March 23 with the confirmation class at St. Boniface Church, which is also in Williamsport.