Naomi Ishisaka

Naomi Ishakawa Foote (born 1976/1977), known professionally as Naomi Ishisaka, is an American writer and former convict for attempted murder.

Naomi Ishisaka
Born
Naomi Ishakawa Foote

1976/1977 (age 43–44)
United States
Other namesVampire Girl
Naomi Ishakawa
Naomi Foote
EducationEvergreen State College (BA)
OccupationWriter
Known for1991 attempted murder of classmate Jason Hood
Conviction(s)Attempted murder
Websitenaomiishisaka.com

On Valentine's Day 1991, at 14 years old, Foote intentionally shot her 15-year-old classmate, Jason Hood, who had apparently harassed her; Hood survived. She told the police that she was a vampire, and the media thereby dubbed her the Vampire Girl. Foote was convicted of first-degree attempted murder. She spent time in juvenile prison outside of Seattle for an undisclosed amount of time. In 1992, she received national attention after being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on The Oprah Winfrey Show while she was in juvenile prison.

Foote now uses the pen name Naomi Ishisaka, and is a columnist for The Seattle Times where she writes about social justice.

Attempted murder and conviction

Foote was an honors student at Mount Rainier High School in Des Moines, Washington, who ran track and sang in the school choir. When Foote was 14 years old, she formulated a plan to shoot her bully, 15-year-old classmate Jason R. Hood. He apparently spit on, threw gravel and rocks at her, and harassed her. His reasoning for his aggressive behavior towards her was that he was trying to get her to stop staring at him all the time. She told her friends that she wanted to shoot him.[1]

On Valentine's Day, the day of the shooting, she took her father's 9mm handgun from his room, which was loaded. Her father later stated that he typically kept his bedroom door locked, but forgot that day to do so. Thereafter, she wore black gloves and went to Jason's house accompanied with two friends, both of whom did not think she was serious.[1] She went to the door and when Jason opened it, she shot him several times in the abdomen. Foote and her two friends then fled.[2] He was subsequently hospitalized and released the following Wednesday, surviving the shooting.[3]

The two girls who were with Foote contacted the police, within an hour after the shooting. They told the police where Foote lived and the police subsequently went to her house and asked her to surrender, which she did. A search warrant produced a weapon the police believed was used in the shooting. Foote was placed in the King County Youth Detention Center for the investigation of assault.[2] When the police questioned her, she told them that she would not be tape-recorded because she was a vampire. Foote told a detective that she wanted to kill Hood because according to court papers "he's ... I don't know, annoying".[3]

In 1992, she received national attention after being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on The Oprah Winfrey Show while she was in juvenile prison.[4]

Life after conviction

Foote obtained a BA in ethnic studies and journalism from Evergreen State College.[5] Foote now uses the pen name Naomi Ishisaka, and is a columnist for The Seattle Times where she writes about social justice.[6][7]

References
  1. Scattarella, Christy (May 22, 1991). "Some Teenagers Try To Solve Personal Problems With A Gun". Seattle Times. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  2. Scattarella, Christy (February 15, 1991). "Girl, 14, Arrested In Shooting Of Youth -- Schoolyard Teasing Is Apparent Motive". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  3. "'Vampire' Girl Charged with Shooting Classmate". Orlando Sentinel. February 22, 1991. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  4. "The 14-Year-Old Teen Who Shot Her Classmate". The Oprah Winfrey Show. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  5. "About Naomi". Naomi Ishisaka Creative. Archived from the original on September 1, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  6. "Naomi Ishisaka". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  7. Suttner, Joseph; Flowers, Gracie (October 30, 2019). "Naomi Ishisaka is putting a spotlight on social justice". KING-TV. Retrieved August 9, 2020.


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