Santana High School shooter, now 40, returns to juvenile court for resentencing proceedings in San Diego County
Case returns to juvenile system more than two decades after campus attack
A man convicted in the 2001 shooting at Santana High School in Santee is appearing in San Diego County juvenile court as part of resentencing proceedings that could alter the terms of his custody and supervision. The defendant, Charles Andrew “Andy” Williams, was 15 at the time of the March 5, 2001 attack and is now 40.
The case’s return to juvenile court follows a ruling in early January 2026 that allowed Williams to seek resentencing under California laws that expanded post-conviction review for crimes committed by minors. Williams previously was prosecuted in adult court and received a sentence of 50 years to life after pleading guilty in 2002 to charges stemming from the shooting.
What happened at Santana High School
The shooting occurred on March 5, 2001, when Williams brought a revolver to campus and opened fire, killing two students and injuring others. The two students who died were Bryan Zuckor, 14, and Randy Gordon, 17. In total, 13 people were injured, including 11 students and two staff members.
How resentencing works when adult convictions are moved to juvenile court
In the juvenile system, the underlying conduct is addressed through findings and a disposition process rather than adult criminal convictions and sentencing. As part of the transfer, the adult convictions can be redesignated as juvenile “true findings,” and a juvenile court judge can then determine an appropriate disposition.
Because Williams was a minor at the time of the offense, the juvenile court phase may focus on what oversight, if any, can be imposed now—given that he has already spent more than two decades in state prison. The legal posture also raises questions about what continued custody, probationary supervision, or conditions could apply after disposition.
Parole history and current custody
Williams has been incarcerated since his 2002 sentencing and has been housed at the California Institution for Men in Chino. He became eligible for parole in September 2024, but his first parole bid was denied after he was assessed as presenting an unreasonable risk to public safety. The parole board also cited concerns about whether he fully understood the reasons for the shooting.
What happens next
Monday’s juvenile court appearance is described as a procedural update to determine next steps leading to a potential disposition hearing. Prosecutors have indicated they intend to challenge the earlier ruling that moved the case into juvenile court, setting up a parallel appellate fight even as juvenile court proceedings continue.
Key date: March 5, 2001 — shooting at Santana High School in Santee.
Plea and sentence: 2002 — guilty plea and 50-years-to-life sentence in adult court.
Recent developments: September 2024 — parole denied; January 2026 — resentencing request granted and transferred to juvenile court.
The resentencing framework reflects California’s shift toward treating youth at the time of an offense as legally significant in determining long-term punishment and post-conviction review.