"We're basically a blue- collar community, and some crime goes with it," said Manuel Perez, 81, who was born in Oxnard and has lived in the same home with his wife, Virginia, 79, for five decades. "But it's really a very nice place to live with really good people."
Bullies can be found anywhere, Perez said. What bothers him about this week's shooting is that it might have been prevented if school officials had more aggressively responded to reports of friction between the two young men.
"Junior high is a critical age, and there are red flags," Perez said. "They're not babies anymore, and they're not in high school. They are just starting to feel their oats."
Organs were taken from King's body Thursday and an autopsy was performed Friday, said Senior Deputy Medical Examiner Craig Stevens. He declined to say what organs were harvested or where they went.
In an interview with the Ventura County Star newspaper, King's father, Greg, said the family believes the donation was the right thing to do. His son was headstrong, artistic and giving, he told the newspaper.
Greg King said seven vital organs were harvested Thursday, adding, "If Larry had the story to write, he'd say, 'If I have to give someone a heart, I want to give it to them on Valentine's Day.' "
The boy's death has prompted vigils, a student-organized march and calls for more attention to anti-gay bullying and harassment in schools.
On Friday, officials at the Gay & Lesbian Center in Los Angeles held a news conference to denounce anti-gay student violence, and a memorial vigil organized by the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance was scheduled for Friday night in Ventura.
A peace march organized by King's classmates at E.O. Green is scheduled for noon today. It will start in a park near the school at 3739 S. 6th St. and continue north through the city to the downtown area.
catherine.saillant@ latimes.com
