El Cajon, Calif. — An 18-year-old student accused of shooting five people at his high school made a reference to the Columbine High massacre in class earlier this year and simulated guns with his hands, a classmate said Friday.
Authorities also said Jason Hoffman, 18, was targeting a vice principal in Thursday's shooting at Granite Hills High School and that he will likely be charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
Bernadette Roberts, 18, said girls were making noise in a classroom in January when Hoffman appeared to become frustrated, put his hands in the shape of guns and stated, "I wish I could do Columbine all over again."
"When he said it it really shook me up," Roberts said.
In 1999, two students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., killed 12 students and a teacher and wounded 23 before killing themselves.
Roberts said she told her teacher and met in February with Vice Principal Dan Barnes, who asked if she believed she needed protection. She said she declined and did not know what steps the district took.
Officials of Grossmont Union High School District did not return phone calls seeking comment Friday. Police Chief James Davis said investigators were aware of the report but declined further comment.
Prosecutor Paul Pfingst said Barnes was the target of the attack.
"All we can say about the motive is that by the virtue of the charges the focus of this individual was the vice principal," prosecutor Paul Pfingst said.
Barnes was not harmed, but three students and two teachers were hit by shotgun pellets, none seriously.
Hoffman remained hospitalized with a broken jaw and a wound to his buttocks. He was shot by a police officer at the school.
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