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Whatever
Happened...
Question: Whatever happened to the Aiea High School student who shot a teacher? Aiea student
who shot teacher
granted paroleAnswer: In 1988, 17-year-old Romel Castro, an Aiea High School student, shot his summer school teacher with a .38-caliber revolver.
The bullet passed through Rosemary Stout and lodged in the blackboard behind her.
Stout survived, but has not returned to teaching. Castro, a heavy methamphetamine user, attempted suicide the same day he shot Stout.
Castro was convicted of attempted murder and was given a life sentence with a minimum of 15 years in prison. The Hawaii Paroling Authority lessened the prison time to 10 years and on June 30, 1998, he received parole.
With the permission of the paroling authority, Castro moved immediately to Arizona to live with family there. Castro's case is being supervised by the Arizona Parole Interstate Compact Office.
City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle, who argued against Castro's transfer from the Oahu Community Correctional Center to a work furlough program in 1997, said he still believes Castro did not receive a strict enough sentence.
"This was the worst case of school violence in the state's history," Carlisle said. "(Stout's) life has never been the same. She loved to teach, and he took it away from her."
Max Otani, acting parole and pardons administrator for the Hawaii Paroling Authority, said Castro has stayed out of trouble since his release from prison.
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