California School Library Named in Memory of Slain Boy

Staff -- School Library Journal, 8/1/1998

The library at the Frank D. Parent School in Inglewood, CA, was renamed in June in honor of Evan Leigh Foster, a seven-year-old boy who was accidentally shot while he sat in the back seat of his mother's car.

The shooting, which appeared to be gang-related, ended the life of a student who loved music and sports, and was devoted to books, said principal Marie Stricklin, who called the second grader a "renaissance boy." The school is encouraging students to bring in new books as contributions to "Evan's Corner" in the library. Each new book will bear Foster's name and the name of the donor.

Foster was killed on December 8 of last year, shortly after registering for a basketball league at a local park, according to the Los Angeles Times. Three reputed gang members were arrested after the incident and charged with murder, the Times said.