Rhapsody,
I am sorry your son knows the kids and goes to school there. Its hard on you as a parent.
I had seen this on news earlier in the week as i keep up with that channel. My sister use to live near there. I know there is a high drug rate there and the drinking is big."not that all that matters" because kids doing this is happening everywhere.....

I do think this is happening with alot of causes. These are my HOs .
The things on tv and in video games are much worse, Kids every day are exposed to killing...
The world moves at such a fast pace some kids are getting left behind...
Anger issues are so deep now, that kids do not know how to handle that. "or adults either sometimes"
The schools Are not helping much. There are good teachers out there, its just things are getting lost.Meaning the kids. : Our school has a 50 % regents test failiure last year. "not all states have to take those, That means 50% failed thier grade. Prolly 25 % dropped out due to that.
Our school had 20% of the senior high girls pregnet last year. NOw you would think they would offer condoms after that. No, they said thats telling them to have sex. "oh boy"
Last I have to come to kids home life. We as parents can not know all. But we do know alot...........when my son had his nervous break down, Years ago. "my husband being a hunter at that time" we removed every gun there was in our home........I mean we took them to his Dads home 3 hours away. My son has never been allowed to hunt. Not ever.
I am not perfect. But we changed our whole lives for this child. Because his anger was so deep.
This morning after reading this post, before he left for school , He leaves early. I asked him direct, Why is it kids feel the need to go to such an extream. He looked at me and said.............Because Mom some are so angry so hurt thats how they handle it. He answered like it was no big deal, How sad is that , that now kids are use to this in the world.

So IMHO I think we can blame all of us. The parents the schools, way of life. And we had all better wake up. Cause the kids need us.
One more thought , the child left behind act . Left a whole bunch of kids behind IMHO