Tuesday, February 28, 2012

T.J. Lane - Chardon High School Shootings

Three students at Chardon High School in Ohio were murdered and two others wounded, allegedly by T.J. Lane.

From FOX News:

A third student who was wounded in a shooting rampage at an Ohio high school died Tuesday morning, according to hospital spokeswoman.

The family of Demetrius Hewlin released a statement following his death.

"We are very saddened by the loss of our son and others in our Chardon community," Hewlin's family said in a statement. "Demetrius was a happy young man who loved life and his family and friends."

Earlier Tuesday, Chardon Police Chief Tim McKenna said during a news conference that 17-year-old Russell King Jr., who was airlifted to a hospital following the shooting, "has passed."

Two other students were wounded in the shooting. Another student, 16-year-old Daniel Parmertor, died hours after the shooting.

McKenna would not disclose the identity of the alleged gunman, saying, "For legal reasons, I will not release the name of the person who's being brought before the judge this afternoon." Another press conference is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

A lawyer for the suspect's family has identified him to a Cleveland television station as T.J. Lane, a 17-year-old junior at the high school who was described by fellow classmates as an outcast.

The teenager is suspected of targeting King and four other classmates inside the school's cafeteria at around 7:30 a.m. Monday.

Witnesses say the gunman opened fire on the group before being chased from the building by a teacher and apprehended by authorities about a half a mile away.

Lawyer Robert Farinacci said Lane's family is mourning "this terrible loss for their community" and "trying to understand how the tragedy happened."

In a statement issued to WKYC-TV in Cleveland Monday night, Farinacci said the family of Lane offered "their most heartfelt and sincere condolences" to the family of Parmertor. Farinacci said Lane's family is praying for the other injured students from Chardon High School.

...Farinacci said Lane "pretty much sticks to himself but does have some friends and has never been in trouble over anything that we know about."

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."

An education official said late Monday the suspected shooter is a student at nearby Lake Academy, not Chardon High.

This is horrific. It's so senseless.

Being bullied is no excuse for committing murder.

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