Teen found guilty of RHS shooting

A Douglas County Juvenile Court Judge found Vincent Wayne Leodoro guilty of attempted murder this morning.

The ruling came after brief closing statements by the defense and prosecution. Judge Robert Millikan ruled that Leodoro, 15, intentionally tried to kill Joseph Monti, 16, when the youth shot Monti four times in the back Feb. 23 on the Roseburg High
School campus.

“I think that Mr. Leodoro intended to kill the victim,” Millikan said, as the teen sat at the defense table, his gaze lowered.

Leodoro was found responsible for attempted murder, first-degree assault and several weapons charges. Millikan said the boy had a strong grasp of weapons mechanics and must have understood the consequences of his action.

Sentencing was scheduled for July 7. Leodoro could end up in custody until the age of 25.

In his defense closing, attorney Bruce Tower said the teen continually denied trying
to kill Monti, saying he only meant to hurt him.

But prosecutor Ann Marie Simmons said this was a case where “actions speak louder than words.”

According to testimony Wednesday, the conflict appears to have stemmed from Leodoro’s irritation over the way Monti joined the younger teen’s group of friends.

The taller, older Monti garnered the attention of two of Leodoro’s female friends, which upset Leodoro and a now-15-year-old friend, Leodoro told police soon after the shooting in a videotaped recording that was presented in court.

“When he’s there, we’re like nothing,” Leodoro told Roseburg Police Department Detective Joe Kaney.

According to Kaney’s testimony and Leodoro’s comments during the interview, Monti thought Leodoro was telling the girls they should stay away from him. Leodoro denied saying anything to the girls, though he admitted having feelings for one of them.

In response to Leodoro’s comments to the girls, Monti allegedly threatened Leodoro’s family. It’s those threats, Leodoro said in the taped interview, that prompted him to act.

Outside the courtroom during a recess, Monti denied the allegations.

“I never threatened his family in my life,” he said.

In fact, Monti claims he was told Leodoro was making threats against his family. A friend told him so on the phone the day before the shooting, he said. Leodoro was secretly listening in on the call where he said he heard Monti threatened to beat him up.

The other friend’s extensive role in the situation was revealed in court for the first time Wednesday. It appears several of the interactions between Monti and Leodoro leading up to the shooting at least in part involved the other teen.

Leodoro also claims he told the friend about his plans to kill Monti a couple weeks before the shooting. He said he also told him of his plans to bring a gun to school the night before the shooting.

Leodoro said in earlier police interviews that the friend in no way helped him go through with the shooting.

About 15 minutes before Leodoro is believed to have gunned down Monti in the courtyard, Leodoro said he showed his friend the gun in a school bathroom. The other teen, who was suspended from school that day, had shown up to see what would happen, Leodoro claims.

A Roseburg High School employee confirmed the other youth withdrew from school in April. Roseburg Police Department Chief Mark Nickel confirmed the teen was investigated, but no charges were filed.

RHS Assistant Principal Larry Rich said a number of students were investigated to find out their involvement.

“If we found that other students were involved then they would have been dealt with in the same manner,” Rich said.

During the interview with Leodoro, Kaney challenged Leodoro’s claim that he only intended to hurt Monti. When the detective asked Leodoro what he’d expect to happen to someone who’s shot, he replied, “Dies, I guess.”

At that point in the interview, Leodoro began to sniffle, his voice wavering.
“I screwed up,” he said. “I shouldn’t have done it.”


• You can reach reporter Chelsea Duncan at 957-4246 or by e-mail at cduncan@newsreview.info.