Two Dead In Ohio School Shooting, Suspect Described As “Bullied”

**Aena** · February 27th, 2012, 09:28 AM

Just came on the news so no link yet, they said Chardon High School 30 miles east of Cleveland is on lock down after shots were fired. They think there are 4 victims.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 27th, 2012, 09:56 AM

At least four students have been injured in a shooting this morning at Chardon High School. The shooter has not been found.

Geauga County Sheriff's spokesman John Hiscox confirmed there had been a shooting in the school, but would give no details shortly after 8 this morning.

A local official confirmed the number of students. He said three boys and a girl were injured. Four ambulances -- from Chardon, Kirtland, Burton and Chesterland -- are waiting at the door of the high school at 8:15 a.m.

Little information has been made available. Chardon police and sheriff's officials said the school was on lockdown. Parents are crowding just off school grounds.

The shooting happened in the cafeteria, according to a waiting parent, Jessica Bryant, whose freshman daughter, Allison, had seen it and texted her.

A city official said they don't know where the shooter is, and parents were being told at 8:21 that it might not be safe to remain near the school. Maple Elementary school across the street was being evacuated.

Police are blocking streets near the school as they go through the building in search of the shooter. A teacher saw the shooting and chased the gun-wielder, who escaped.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stor...-shooting.html

**Aena** · February 27th, 2012, 10:02 AM

They have someone in custody.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 27th, 2012, 10:17 AM

It's a bit early in reporting... nothing out at the moment other than suspect in custody. Most reporting it is a student. Some outlets reporting 2 in custody. It'll shake itself out in a bit.

**Aena** · February 27th, 2012, 11:50 AM

Now they are saying 5 victims in the shooting, 3 of them life-lined to the hospital. One shooter, it was a student.

**Aena** · February 27th, 2012, 01:23 PM

One student is dead, haven't heard anything else yet. Watching the Jason Young trial...

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 27th, 2012, 01:39 PM

My previous link updated:

One of the five students shot at Chardon High School this morning has died, Police Chief Tim McKenna said at a noon media conference.

Officials gave no other details about the injured during their brief statements to the media.

School Superintendent Joseph Bergant II said, "Our prayers go out to the five victims and their families. We feel so disheartened."

McKenna said authorities first learned of the shootings at 7:38 a.m., when they received numerous calls about multiple gunshots at Chardon High School.

The police chief said the suspect has been arrested but won't be named until he is charged. McKenna said the suspect is a juvenile.

Bergant said, "We’ve had a number of disaster drills in the past, thank god we put those in place. We’ve been training for this."

The victims (both male and female) were found in three separate locations in the school. Authorities are not elaborating on the locations right now.

Authorities have not released any information on any possible relationship between the suspected shooter and the victims.

Superintendent Joseph Bergant also spoke during the noon presser, saying there will grief counselors available to the community tonight and a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church across from the high school.

The next press conference is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday.

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2012/feb/...own-ar-946028/

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 27th, 2012, 01:41 PM

High school junior Nate Mueller, who was hit in the right ear, identified the shooter as T.J. Lane.

Mueller said he and his friends, including Russell King, Nick Walczak and Demetrius Hewlin, were sitting at their regular cafeteria table when T.J. approached them about 7:30 a.m.

Nate said he heard a gunshot behind him. He turned and felt a sting on his ear.

"My friends were crawling on the floor, and one of my friends was bent over the table, and he was shot," Nate said. "It was almost like a firecracker went off. I turned around and saw [T.J.] standing with a gun and I saw him take a shot."

Nate, who has a scratch on his upper right ear, said he ran out of the building, hid behind a car and called 9-1-1.

Nate said his group was friends with T.J. through middle school, but in high school, T.J. went a separate way.

Russell, he said, had recently started dating T.J.'s ex-girlfriend, who is home-schooled.

"He was silent the whole time," said Nate, who was waiting for a bus to his culinary arts classes at Auburn Career Center. "That's what made it so random."

T.J., he said, normally waits for a bus that goes to Lake Academy, a school in Willoughby that serves at-risk students.

Police have confirmed that there are five victims and that the shooter is in custody.

A 17-year-old-boy and 18-year-old girl are in stable condition at Hillcrest Hospital, a spokeswoman said.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012...ifies_sho.html

**malq** · February 27th, 2012, 01:43 PM

Wow. I am really sad this is becoming more common.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 27th, 2012, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by malq

Wow. I am really sad this is becoming more common.

Then be happy... because it isn't becoming more common:

The School Associated Violent Deaths Report is an in-house report of the National School Safety Center dealing with school shootings and other violent deaths within schools.
[...]

This report covers all reported school associated violent deaths that the National School Safety Center knows of from the 1992-1993 School year to present. For purposes of this study, the new school year begins on August 1st.

http://www.schoolsafety.us/media-res...violent-deaths

**Morbid** · February 27th, 2012, 02:10 PM

CHARDON, OHIO –*A shooting at an Ohio high school this morning has left one student dead, four others injured, and one in custody. Official details are still sketchy, but initial reports were that a gunman had opened fire at Chardon High School*this morning, wounding five students. Three of those students were transported by Life Flight to MetroHealth Medical Center, where one later died. A*17-year-old male and an 18-year-old female were taken to Hillcrest Hospital where the boy was in serious condition and the girl was stable. The suspected gunman has been identified as another student at the school. He turned himself in to bystanders outside of the school after reportedly being chased out of the building by a teacher. Chardon Police Chief Tim McKenna will update the public at a 4 p.m. news conference.  
This article is from The Dreamin' Demon, the Internet's self-appointed buzzkill.

More...

**malq** · February 27th, 2012, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Dakota Valkyrie

Then be happy... because it isn't becoming more common:

http://www.schoolsafety.us/media-res...violent-deaths

Interesting stats.
I was looking for a significant decrease after the most famous one in 1999, Columbine. Other than the year 2001-2002 it remained high until around 2005-06 where there is a sharp drop. I can only assume that is how long it took to mandate safety guidelines in schools and put them in effect. I know 06-07 it finally came down the pipeline for mandatory emergency warning systems and they were actually being implemented.

**TheMorningStar** · February 27th, 2012, 09:56 PM

A teenager described as a bullied outcast at his suburban Cleveland high school opened fire in the cafeteria Monday morning, reportedly killing two students and wounding three others before being caught a short distance away, authorities said. The second fatality was reported by Cleveland's Channel 19 News Monday evening.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crim...icle-1.1029152

**golanvern** · February 28th, 2012, 12:08 AM

Interesting ... CNN still has it at one deceased as at 20 minutes ago.

Students described Ohio school shooting suspect T.J. Lane as quiet, someone who was guarded, seemingly sad at times, but nice once you broke through the wall that he put up around himself. FULL STORY | 1 DEAD, 4 INJURED

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/27/justic...html?hpt=hp_c1

**TheMorningStar** · February 28th, 2012, 12:56 AM

Three students were transported to MetroHealth Medical Center. Daniel Parmertor, 16, died from injuries shortly after being flown to the hospital. Sources tell 19 Action News that a second victim died at MetroHealth Medical Center around 6:45 p.m. Monday evening. The third shooting victim at MetroHealth Medical Center is listed in critical condition.

The remaining student victims, a 17-year-old male and an 18-year-old female, were taken to Hillcrest Hospital. The male was last listed in serious condition and the female was reported to be in stable condition

http://www.woio.com/story/17024182/c...ooting-rampage

**golanvern** · February 28th, 2012, 01:57 AM

It's not making sense to me ...

Unless they're not counting buddy with the shot ear injury as a victim ... else they'd be up to 6 victims. Still not understanding why CNN hasn't updated their page to include the second death (they have updated their story a couple of times since 6:45 pm reported death of second victim, but still not their count nor a mention of any second death in their story).

updated 12:11 AM EST, Tue February 28, 2012: 1 DEAD, 4 INJURED

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 28th, 2012, 08:18 AM

A second Chardon High School student who was shot Monday morning has dead.

Russell King Jr., 17, was pronounced brain dead Monday at MetroHealth Medical Center.

The hospital notified the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office of the death at 12:42 a.m. today.

Russell was described by students as a sociable kid who got along well with people.

Enrolled at both Chardon High School and at the Auburn Career Center in Concord Township, the junior studied technologies of alternative energies like solar and wind power while at the career center.
[...]

Joy Rickers, 18, remains in stable condition this morning at Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights. She is an artist and member of the Buckeye Retriever Club, a Geauga County group for dog owners.

Nickolas Wajczak, 17, is also at Hillcrest, where he remains in serious condition with several gunshot wounds. He is studying alternative energy in pursuit of a career in environmental work.

http://www.cleveland.com/chardon-sho..._school_s.html

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 28th, 2012, 08:28 AM

The chilling actions of a teenager as he systematically shot Chardon High School students sitting at a cafeteria table were captured by surveillance video at Chardon High School, which also showed the chaos afterward.

According to a source who viewed the video, the student – identified by fellow students as T.J. Lane -- sat down by himself at a table in the cafeteria around 7:30 a.m. Within moments he reached into a pack or a bag. He pulled out a .22-caliber handgun.

Lane walked around his table and stood behind students identified by classmates as Russell King, Demetrius Hewlin and Nick Walczak, all juniors and friends. Russell and Nick were waiting there before catching a bus to Auburn Career Center.

The video shows Lane raising his gun and shooting, the source said. Russell, who students say was shot in the back, is at MetroHealth Medical Center. Demetrius, who students say was shot in the back of the head, is also at MetroHealth. Nick, who was shot numerous times, is in stable condition at Hillcrest Hospital.

Lane fled out the door. Frank Hall, a teacher and assistant football coach who was in the cafeteria, gave chase as dozens of students in the cafeteria raced for shelter.

At some point, not seen by the source who viewed the video, Daniel Parmertor, 16, was shot. Officials have not provided details. He died at MetroHealth.

As Lane ran down the hall toward the east entrance of the school, he fired at a female student, according to the source. Students identified her as senior Joy Rickers, 18. A teacher opened to door to his classroom and pulled her in, the source said. Rickers is in serious condition at Hillcrest.

Lane ran out of the school and across the student parking lot. He was apprehended on Woodin Road in Chardon Township about an hour later, a law officer said.

http://www.cleveland.com/chardon-sho...ideo_show.html

When the unthinkable happened at Chardon High School, this town was prepared.

Full story: http://www.cleveland.com/chardon-sho...pared_for.html

Chardon has a population of just over 5,000. It's about 30 miles from Cleveland.

Full LOCAL coverage: http://www.cleveland.com/chardon-shooting/

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 28th, 2012, 08:33 AM

It appears that T.J. Lane had violence in his life from the beginning.

Geauga County court records show the father of the teen who authorities say shot five students at Chardon High School on Monday had been arrested many times for violent crimes against women in his life, including Lane's mother. More than once, police or courts warned him to stay away from the boy and his mother.
[...]

Fellow students said the 17-year-old was quiet. Some said he was sweet, while others said he had a simmering temper.

His Facebook page, now deleted, had one picture that showed him bare-chested, glaring down toward the camera. In another picture, dated 11 days ago, he is sitting on a bed peering out from behind a giant teddy bear with a heart that says, "Be Mine."

He listed his interests as anime and primitive hunting.

For his high school, he listed the Pink Floyd lyric, "We don't need no thought control."

T.J. Lane attended Lake Academy, an alternative school in Willoughby for students in Lake and Geauga counties. A woman who answered the phone there declined to comment Monday.

The teen had one prior case in Geauga County Juvenile court two years ago. Officials declined to give out information on the case. But several at the court said the family's troubles were known to social workers in the county.

The father, Thomas Lane Jr., was known to county authorities because of a series of arrests for abusing women he had children with, court records show. It's not clear how much contact the father and son had.

But between 1995 and 1997 the boy's father and mother, Sara A. Nolan, were each charged with domestic violence against each other.

The father was later charged with assaulting a police officer and he served time in prison after trying to suffocate another woman he married several years after his son was born, according to court records.

He held the woman's head under running water and bashed it into a wall, leaving a dent in the dry wall, the court records said.

But soon after he went to prison, the woman wrote a letter asking that he be released early.

She had divorced Thomas Lane but said in the letter that he was always a good father to their twin daughters and a son she had before they married.

Some youths who attended a vigil at a church on Chardon's square Monday evening said that the teen lived with his grandparents and had multiple step- and half-siblings. His grandmother declined to comment.

One young woman said he attended a church youth group several years ago while he was dating a girl. Many students said he was heartbroken when she broke up with him and later began dating one of the boys who was shot.
[...]

http://www.cleveland.com/chardon-sho...ed_of_sho.html

**Morbid** · February 28th, 2012, 01:50 PM

CHARDON, OHIO – More information coming out of the Ohio school shooting, but it’s tough picking through it all to determine what is factual and what is hearsay — some bloggers even posting the wrong picture of the shooter. But as of today, two students at Chardon High School have died after 17-year-old TJ Lane walked into the cafeteria yesterday morning and calmly fired on a group of kids sitting at a table, hitting five of them. Three of the injured were flown to*MetroHealth Medical Center where one, 16-year-old*Daniel Parmertor, died shortly after arriving there. Now a second teen,*17-year-old Russell King, Jr., has died after being taken off life support yesterday evening. The third student*is listed in critical condition. A*17-year-old male and an 18-year-old female were taken to Hillcrest Hospital where the boy was in serious condition and the girl was stable. After firing on the group, Lane was*chased out of the building by a teacher, Frank Hall, and then later apprehended by police with K-9 units about a mile away from the school and near his parked car. Law enforcement have not released a motive behind the shooting but are telling reporters that Lane warned his friends about his plans two days in advance, although no one took him seriously. Lane, who claims he is bullied, is described as a quiet outcast by some of his peers while others say that his claims of being bullied are not true. “Even though he was quiet, he still had friends,” said Tyler Lillash, 16. “He was not bullied.” Like I said, a bunch of different pictures being painted regarding Lane, depending on who you ask. His lawyer is describing him as very scared kid who is very*remorseful. “He is a very confused young man right now,” Lawyer Bob Farinacci, speaking for Lane’s family, said late Monday night.*”He’s very confused. He is very upset. He’s very distraught … himself. This is a very scary circumstance that I don’t think he could have possibly even foreseen himself in the middle of.” You can check out Lane’s Facebook Page if you want. Not much to look at aside from him being your standard skinny teen into anime and cats. But hey, at least he has good taste in movies and*television. A lot of the news articles out are pointing to a wretched*piece*of poetry Lane had posted last December. In it he refers to aKeep Reading...
This article is from The Dreamin' Demon, the Internet's self-appointed buzzkill.

More...

**Whisper** · February 28th, 2012, 02:03 PM

Third student Died
Third student, Demetrius Hewlin, dies after shooting rampage at Chardon High School

Demetrius Hewlin

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/loc...on-High-School

**Whisper** · February 28th, 2012, 02:04 PM

A third victim of Monday’s school shooting in Chardon, Ohio, has died, according to a statement from MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

Demetrius Hewlin died Tuesday morning, his family said in a statement released by the hospital.

Student Russell King Jr., 17, was declared brain dead early Tuesday, according to the medical examiner's office, and student Daniel Parmertor died on Monday.

Two other students remain hospitalized.

http://www.cnn.com/JUSTICE/

**Whisper** · February 28th, 2012, 02:27 PM

Thousands join Facebook-started effort to wear red in support of Chardon High School after shooting

CHARDON, Ohio - Tens of thousands of people across the region and around the world are wearing red Tuesday in support of Chardon High School after a shooting left two students dead and three others hospitalized.
[...]

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/loc...#ixzz1nhbzjEdM

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 28th, 2012, 03:38 PM

New information coming out of the Chardon Local School District is now indicating the suspected shooter in Monday morning's violent attack was not a student of Chardon High School.

According to an education official in the district, the suspect is a student at Lake Academy, a school for students with academic or behavioral problems.

The suspect hasn't yet been charged, so his name hasn't been released by police. But several students have identified him as TJ Lane.

http://www.wytv.com/mostpopular/stor...B217RKwZg.cspx

**Ninja0980** · February 28th, 2012, 05:14 PM

Don't get me wrong here,T.J. Lane deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison. Cases like this me angry on all sides because lookng at his background..you could see this coming a mile away.
Domestic violence doesn't have to include hitting a child to scar for them. T.J. learned from an early age that violence was an acceptable way to resolve problems,and now three kids are dead because of it.
He's going to learn the hard way all that gets you is prison or death. The only good that will come of this..maybe his other siblings and half-siblings won't repeat the cycle.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 28th, 2012, 05:34 PM

he teenage suspect in an Ohio school shooting that killed three students and wounded two didn't know his victims and chose them randomly, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Suspect T.J. Lane, 17, admitted firing 10 shots with a .22-caliber pistol Monday morning at Chardon High School, Geauga County prosecutor David Joyce said at a juvenile court hearing.
[...]

Lane's face twitched lightly while the prosecutor recounted the attack, and he sniffled and half-closed his eyes as he walked out of the room with deputies.

Lane's custodial grandfather and two aunts joined him in court; the women reached over and lightly embraced the grandfather as the hearing began.

Judge Timothy Grendell ordered the boy, who is considered a juvenile, held for at least the next 15 days. Prosecutors have until March 1 to charge him.

The judge imposed a gag order on opposing attorneys at the prosecutor's request and told the media not to photograph the boy's face in court. He is a juvenile.
[...]

"We're not just any old place, Chardon," Chardon School Superintendent Joseph Bergant II said. "This is every place. As you've seen in the past, this can happen anywhere, proof of what we had yesterday."
[...]

The police chief would shed no light on a motive.
[...]

Fifteen-year-old Danny Komertz, who witnessed the shooting, said Lane was known as an outcast who had apparently been bullied. But others disputed that.

"Even though he was quiet, he still had friends," said Tyler Lillash, 16. "He was not bullied."

Farinacci, representing Lane and his family, told WKYC-TV that Lane "pretty much sticks to himself but does have some friends and has never been in trouble over anything that we know about."

Student Nate Mueller said that he was at the table in the cafeteria where the victims were shot, and a bullet grazed his ear.

"My friends were crawling on the floor, and one of my friends was bent over the table, and he was shot," Mueller told The Plain Dealer. "It was almost like a firecracker went off. I turned around and saw (Lane) standing with a gun and I saw him take a shot."

Mueller told the Cleveland newspaper that Lane would wait at the school to take a bus to Lake Academy. Mueller said that King — one of those killed — had recently started dating Lane's ex-girlfriend.

Lane "was silent the whole time," Mueller said. "That's what made it so random."

Frank Hall, an assistant high school football coach who students say chased the suspected gunman out of the cafeteria, told a Cleveland TV station that he couldn't discuss what happened, but added: "I just want to say that I'm sorry for the families."

Hall told WEWS on Tuesday that school staffers had been asked by the district to be sensitive about the investigation.

"I wish I could have done more," said Hall, whom students have hailed as a hero.

http://www.wral.com/news/story/10790396/

**Whisper** · February 28th, 2012, 11:41 PM

Police: Teen hurt in Ohio school shooting now home

CHARDON, Ohio – Authorities say a teen who was hurt but survived a deadly shooting rampage at an Ohio high school has been released from the hospital.

The Chardon police chief says authorities learned Tuesday that the female Chardon High student had been released and was home with family. He said it is good news amid tragic circumstances.

The shootings Monday killed three students and wounded two, including the 18-year-old girl.

The 17-year-old suspect, T.J. Lane, appeared Tuesday in court. He was ordered held for at least the next 15 days.

A prosecutor has said Lane admitted taking a .22-caliber pistol to the school and firing 10 shots at a group of students sitting at a cafeteria table.
[...]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/28...#ixzz1njrLe0X6

**Silvahalo** · February 29th, 2012, 01:15 AM

"We're not just any old place, Chardon," Chardon School Superintendent Joseph Bergant II said. "This is every place. As you've seen in the past, this can happen anywhere, proof of what we had yesterday."

These stories really run me cold. It's chilling and there is no way for certain to know where and who might snap.
I'm thinking the one released is the 18 yo Joy Rickers.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of those injured and dead. An unconscionable act, an act that strikes fear in every student and parent.

Rest in peace Russel J. King, Daniel Parmetor and Demetrius Hewlin.

**Redshoes** · February 29th, 2012, 03:55 AM

I grew up in a small town right next to Chardon (my high school was actually in Chardon as well). I still know a good amount of people in the area, and everyone is beyond shocked to say the least. It's so sad, and it's creepy to me to have this happen in a small town I know so well. Ugh. It's just so sad. I'm so bummed that three of the kids died. I was following this since it began, and I really thought they had a chance. I wasn't too worried that the three were lifeflighted because there's seriously no hospitals anywhere near that.

So damn sad. RIP Russel, Daniel, and Demetrius.

I am somewhat... ah relieved is not the word, but curious I guess- since the killer didn't actually commit suicide for once. Who knows if we will ever be able to understand anything better though with anything we'll hear from him.

Damn, kids. Too much.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 29th, 2012, 08:54 AM

Lane appeared in Geauga County Juvenile Court, surrounded by law enforcement, three stunned-looking family members and a crowd of media trying to make sense of the tragedy.

Lane, in a tan collared shirt and belted pants, stared at a table, blinking often, as Geauga County Prosecutor David Joyce told a judge the teen admitted bringing a knife and a .22-caliber gun into the school's cafeteria Monday morning and firing off 10 rounds at students.
[...]

The community had been grasping for a motive since Lane surrendered to authorities shortly after the shooting, about a mile from the school.

On Tuesday, they didn't get one.

Since the shootings, some had speculated that Lane was bullied. Others said a former friend stole his girlfriend. There was a rumor about a beef over drugs.

But Joyce said Lane simply "was not well."

"This was an aberration," Joyce said at a news conference after Lane's appearance in Geauga County Juvenile Court.
[...]

Witnesses said he was silent and expressionless before and during the shooting. One saw him in a bathroom before the shooting peering at himself in a mirror.

After Lane fled the school, he sat -- alone -- on the side of Woodin Road waiting for deputies to come get him. When they arrived, he stood calmly as a deputy clasped handcuffs over his wrists.
[...]

Little is still known about Lane beyond where he went to school and what he put out there for the world to see on the Internet.

Lane's now deleted Facebook page was peppered with sarcastic and sometimes angry missives. In some pictures posted there he looked like a lost little boy and in others he seemed to be pushing an imposing image.
[...]

http://www.cleveland.com/chardon-sho...oter_appe.html