Guilty verdict rendered in killing of Placerville principal
By Carlos Alcalá, Sacramento Bee
Placerville residents saw a measure of swift justice Tuesday, as John Luebbers was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2011 shooting of popular school principal Sam LaCara.
Staff members and parents from Louisiana Schnell Elementary School, where LaCara, 50, was principal, shared tearful hugs after the verdict was read.
“He was a good man,” Kara Tracy, an instructional aide at Schnell, said of LaCara.
Tracy was happy for the verdict, but said, “I don’t think it does any justice. It doesn’t bring Sam back.”
The guilty verdict was the culmination of a sudden end to Luebbers’ trial.
The prosecution rested its case as soon as court was in session Tuesday and the defense attorney elected not to present any evidence or testimony, later saying it was not in his client’s best interests.
Another captivating story.
Leubbers not only took Sam’s life, but the innocent, carefree attitudes of every child who attends Schnell Elementary.
Very sad indeed.