T.J. Lane, 17, the teenager arrested in a shooting incident at Chardon High School in Ohio, did not know his victims and chose them randomly, a prosecutor said Tuesday during Lane’s appearance in juvenile court, The Associated Press reported. Lane
T.J. Lane, 17, the teenager arrested in a shooting incident at Chardon High School in Ohio, did not know his victims and chose them randomly, a prosecutor said Tuesday during Lane’s appearance in juvenile court, The Associated Press reported.
Lane admitted taking a .22-caliber pistol to Chardon High School along with a knife and firing 10 shots at a group of students sitting at a cafeteria table, Monday, Prosecutor David Joyce said.
Judge Timothy Grendell ordered the boy, who is considered a juvenile, held for at least 15 days. Prosecutors have until March 1 to charge him, AP reported.
The court hearing came hours after the death toll rose to three as schoolmates and townspeople grappled with the tragedy and wondered what could have set the gunman off.
“It’s a terrible tragedy,” said Cassidy Yatsko, a 10th grade student at Kapa‘a High School who has friends in Chardon. “I have two really good friends who go to Chardon High School and while I was watching the news at 5 a.m. Monday, they were texting me and letting me know everything that was going on.”
Victim Demetrius Hewlin, who had been in critical condition, died Tuesday morning, shortly after Police Chief Tim McKenna announced Russell King Jr., 17, had died, AP reported. Two other victims, identified as students, were wounded, according to AP.
Lane did not attend Chardon High, instead attending nearby Lake Academy.
Yatsko said she and her family visit Chardon every summer.
“We’ve been in Chardon and talked to the townspeople,” she said. “For this to happen in this small town is absolutely astonishing. We are deeply sorry for all the physical and emotional victims of this disaster.”
