Assistant coach at California high school wounded in drive-by shooting

Joe Pastrana had just broken up a fight outside Vallejo High School in Vallejo when shots were fired at him by a passing car; he is in stable condition.

Sept. 15, 2022

An assistant football coach at a high school in Vallejo, Calif., was reported to be in stable condition after being shot in front of the school.

The Vallejo Times-Herald reports that Joe Pastrana, defensive coordinator for the Vallejo High School football squad, was breaking up a fight Tuesday afternoon as the school day ended when someone in a car driving by shot him in the upper hip. Authorities say they do not believe that the shooter is a student at the school.

Vallejo City Unified School District Superintendent William Spalding released a statement about the shooting.

“At approximately 3:40 p.m., an argument between students and unknown males occurred,” Spalding said. “The fight was broken up by staff members. As the three males fled the area, a shooting occurred, and the staff member was struck at least once, suffering a non-life-threatening injury.”

The motive and circumstances involving the incident remain under investigation.

Vallejo High School has increased security and police presence on campus.

Pastrana is a 2009 Vallejo High graduate.