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4 students hurt in shooting at Chardon High School; suspect in custody
Published: Monday, February 27, 2012, 8:18 AM
By John Horton, The Plain Dealer
CHARDON, Ohio -- Four students have been injured in a shooting this morning at Chardon High School.
According to the Geauga County Sheriff's Office and the FBI, a suspect has been arrested. Scott Wilson of the FBI said they believe there was only one shooter, but the incident remains under investigation.
The youth who was arrested had fled the high school building, but was caught on Woodin Road in Chardon Township, a law officer said. The boy is being processed at the sheriff's office, according to reports about 9 a.m.
Both the sheriff's office and Wilson declined to provide further detail of the events that unfolded in the high school cafeteria about 7:45 a.m.
A local official said three boys and a girl were injured. Four ambulances -- from Chardon, Kirtland, Burton and Chesterland -- arrived at the school just after 8. Sources said three of the students were flown to the trauma center at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.
The school was immediately put on lockdown but parents are lined up near the campus now to pick up their children. Parents crowded outside the school said they started receiving text messages from children before 8.
Several students came out of the school in tears. Others came out in gym shorts, an indication of how suddenly the school day changed and the urgency with which the students were removed from the building.
"I'm just glad you're OK," one parent said to a student as they embraced.
The shooting happened in the cafeteria, according to a waiting parent, Jessica Bryant, whose freshman daughter, Allison, had seen it and texted her.
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, according to reports.
At 8:30, students were being evacuated from the school and are going to Maple Elementary. Many, scared, could be seen holding hands and crying.
Mother Darlene Judd said she had heard from her two sons, seniors Peter and Paul and was relieved for them but scared for the others. Chardon is "a tight-knit community," she said. "Everybvody knows everybody; everybody cares for everybody. Even though it's not your kid down, someone else's is."
Around 8:45, the Lake County SWAT team has arrived with two large vehicles.
Parent Jeannette Roth, who had heard from her son Joshua, a junior, said he told her the shooting happened while students were eating breakfast in the cafeteria and waiting for first period. Suddenly, a boy "stood up and started shooting, and then it was chaos."
Students fled and were locked into classrooms for safety.
Published: Monday, February 27, 2012, 8:18 AM
By John Horton, The Plain Dealer
CHARDON, Ohio -- Four students have been injured in a shooting this morning at Chardon High School.
According to the Geauga County Sheriff's Office and the FBI, a suspect has been arrested. Scott Wilson of the FBI said they believe there was only one shooter, but the incident remains under investigation.
The youth who was arrested had fled the high school building, but was caught on Woodin Road in Chardon Township, a law officer said. The boy is being processed at the sheriff's office, according to reports about 9 a.m.
Both the sheriff's office and Wilson declined to provide further detail of the events that unfolded in the high school cafeteria about 7:45 a.m.
A local official said three boys and a girl were injured. Four ambulances -- from Chardon, Kirtland, Burton and Chesterland -- arrived at the school just after 8. Sources said three of the students were flown to the trauma center at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.
The school was immediately put on lockdown but parents are lined up near the campus now to pick up their children. Parents crowded outside the school said they started receiving text messages from children before 8.
Several students came out of the school in tears. Others came out in gym shorts, an indication of how suddenly the school day changed and the urgency with which the students were removed from the building.
"I'm just glad you're OK," one parent said to a student as they embraced.
The shooting happened in the cafeteria, according to a waiting parent, Jessica Bryant, whose freshman daughter, Allison, had seen it and texted her.
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, according to reports.
At 8:30, students were being evacuated from the school and are going to Maple Elementary. Many, scared, could be seen holding hands and crying.
Mother Darlene Judd said she had heard from her two sons, seniors Peter and Paul and was relieved for them but scared for the others. Chardon is "a tight-knit community," she said. "Everybvody knows everybody; everybody cares for everybody. Even though it's not your kid down, someone else's is."
Around 8:45, the Lake County SWAT team has arrived with two large vehicles.
Parent Jeannette Roth, who had heard from her son Joshua, a junior, said he told her the shooting happened while students were eating breakfast in the cafeteria and waiting for first period. Suddenly, a boy "stood up and started shooting, and then it was chaos."
Students fled and were locked into classrooms for safety.
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