Former security guard charged with murder in shooting death of Spartan College dean in Inglewood

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (KABC) -- A former security guard was charged with the murder of the dean of the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Inglewood, the district attorney's office announced Tuesday.

40-year-old Jesse Figueroa, who used to work at the school, was also charged with attempted murder for shooting and injuring another employee during the same incident on May 2.

"Any student, faculty member or employee should feel safe and secure going to school," said District Attorney Hochman. "This horrific act of gun violence has shaken Spartan College and our entire community. We will file all appropriate gun enhancements in this case and send a clear message to criminals that violence will not be tolerated in Los Angeles County."

Figueroa is charged with one felony count of murder; one felony count of attempted murder; one felony count of possession of firearm with prior violent convictions; and one felony count of possession of firearm by a felon with prior convictions.

If convicted as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison.

Family identified the beloved college dean as Dr. Cameisha Clark in a statement.

"We are beyond devastated. Cameisha's life was taken from us far too soon, in an act of senseless violence that no woman should ever have to endure," the statement read. "She brought warmth, laughter, and grace into our lives every day. Her presence was a gift, and the void left behind is immeasurable."

Clark had just been promoted to dean at Spartan College, according to her family. Before then, she worked at the Clark Atlanta University campus in her hometown of Atlanta, Ga.

"Her leadership, integrity, and deep sense of purpose helped shape the futures of countless students," the statement said. "She believed in the potential of others even when they could not yet see it in themselves."

The fatal shooting happened around 3:45 p.m. Friday inside an office on the campus, located at 8911 Aviation Boulevard. AIR7 video showed a major police presence outside the school amid a search for the gunman.

Since Figueroa is a former security guard at the school, authorities knew his name and the car he was in. That vehicle was spotted in Koreatown a few hours after the shooting.

Figueroa was apparently wearing his security uniform during the shooting.

Butts described the shooting as an incident of workplace violence. The two women, including Clark, are employees of the school, he said.

Both victims were hospitalized, and as of Sunday morning, the other victim was stable.

A lockdown was placed around the campus, but was later lifted after police determined Figueroa had fled the scene.

Cellphone video from a car rental parking lot across the street from the college shows first responders carrying one of the injured women away from the building.

Dozens of students and staff at the aviation school were interviewed by investigators as police tried to understand what led to the violence.

It's unclear what motivated the shooting.

Chris Becker, president of the campus, told Eyewitness News that the campus prepares for almost every kind of emergency, but Friday's shooting still caught everyone off guard.

"We're an aviation school, so safety is one of the things that we focus on the most," Becker said.

"We all get along really well," he added. "We care about one another deeply, and this is hard on all of us."

The Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology has campuses across the country. Its Inglewood location accommodates 500 students and offers training programs focused on aviation maintenance technology, according to its website.

It is about a mile from Los Angeles International Airport.

ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.