Security Probed in Newark Schoolyard Killing Civil Suit

School security procedures are the focus as a civil trial stemming from a 2007 triple murder resumes.

Iofemi Hightower, Dashon Harvey and Terrance Aeriel were shot behind Newark's Mount Vernon School. Their families have sued the state-run school district, claiming it left gates open when it should have known the schoolyard was a gang hangout.

The civil trial entered its second week on Tuesday. A school district security supervisor, the school's principal and two security guards testified on security procedures at the schoolyard.

The Star-Ledger of Newark reports the principal and district supervisor testified the gates were to be locked after 6 p.m. by security guards.

One of the guards testified there wasn't a blanket policy regarding gates but that it was up to individual schools.

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