A judge ordered the case of Charles "Andy" Williams — who at 15 killed two students and wounded others in a 2001 Santana High School shooting — returned to juvenile court for resentencing, a decision that could lead to his release after about 23 years served. Judge Lisa Rodriguez said she was bound to apply the law, and prosecutors immediately appealed to try to block any release. Williams, now 39 and held in Chino, was denied parole in 2024 after a state board found he remained a public‑safety risk. The resentencing request was filed under laws and court rulings that allow reconsideration of lengthy juvenile sentences.
Judge Sends Santana High Shooter Back To Juvenile Court — Release Possible After 23 Years
Santana High School freshman Charles
A San Diego judge on Tuesday ordered that the case of Charles "Andy" Williams — who at age 15 carried out a 2001 shooting at Santana High School — be returned to juvenile court for resentencing, a move that could lead to his release after serving about 23 years behind bars. Williams had been serving a 50-years-to-life term for killing two students and injuring others.
What the Judge Ruled
San Diego Superior Court Judge Lisa Rodriguez concluded she was required to follow current law rather than public emotion, and directed that Williams' adult convictions be redesignated as juvenile "true findings" and the matter sent to juvenile court for a disposition hearing. The San Diego County District Attorney's Office said that ruling could result in Williams' immediate release from prison without parole supervision or evaluation — a claim prosecutors have moved to block by appealing the decision to an appellate court.
"As prosecutors, our duty is to ensure justice for victims and protect public safety," said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. "The defendant's cruel actions in this case continue to warrant the 50‑years‑to‑life sentence that was imposed."
"I'm grateful that Judge Rodriguez was able to put away emotional reasoning and base her decision on the law," Williams' attorney Laura Sheppard told reporters, calling the resentencing decision the correct legal outcome.
Background And Victims
On March 5, 2001, 15‑year‑old Charles "Andy" Williams opened fire with his father's revolver at Santana High School. Two students were killed — 14‑year‑old Bryan Zuckor and 17‑year‑old Randy Gordon — and 13 others, including students and staff, were wounded. Williams pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 50 years to life.
Now 39, Williams is held at the California Institution for Men in Chino. He became eligible for parole in September 2024 but was denied after a state parole board found he remained an "unreasonable risk to public safety" and questioned whether he understood why he committed the shooting.
Legal Basis And Next Steps
Williams sought resentencing under laws and court decisions that allow judges to revisit lengthy or life‑equivalent juvenile sentences. A California law enacted in 2011 created avenues for juvenile offenders serving life terms to seek resentencing, and a 2022 appeals court decision expanded eligibility to people serving the "functional equivalent" of life without parole.
Because Williams was a juvenile when the crime occurred, the reclassification of his convictions as juvenile "true findings" would make him eligible for juvenile court disposition options, which could include release and placement on juvenile probation. Prosecutors have filed an appeal in an effort to prevent or delay any immediate release; the appellate process means no change in Williams' custody status is final until courts resolve that challenge.
Key next steps: the case will proceed to juvenile court for a disposition hearing unless an appellate court intervenes. The appeals court may grant relief that keeps Williams in custody while it considers the prosecutors' challenge.
