T.J. Lane, the lone suspected gunman in the Chardon High School attacks, arrived for his first court appearance at the Geauga County Courthouse Annex amidst tight security.
State troopers were stationed at every corner of the block surrounding the building while the back alley was closed off to all traffic.
The 17-year-old was the last to enter the courtroom of Judge Timothy Grendell.
As he entered the room with his attorney Robert Farinacci at his side, he nodded to his grandfather and two aunts who were sitting at the defense table.
The aunt sitting to his right put her hand on his forearm as if to reassure him.
Geauga County Prosecutor David Joyce made a case as to why Lane should remain in the custody of authorities, saying the teen made an admission of guilt to his arresting officer.
Grendell ruled that Lane be held for the next 15 days at a juvenile detention facility.
Lane’s attorney Robert Farinacci did not argue against the ruling by Grendell.
Joyce said Lane admitted to bringing a .22-caliber pistol and a knife to the school cafeteria around 7:30 the morning of Feb. 27.
He said he chose his victims at random and fired ten rounds into the room.
He fled the building through an east door to a parking lot and into the woods beyond.
He was found on Wood Road in Chester Twp. at 8:37 a.m. and taken into custody.
Judge Grendell ordered the media not to show Lane’s face on camera until a hearing on Wednesday afternoon to further argue the matter.
Lane’s relatives asked that their faces not be shown at any time.
Prosecutor Joyce later said at a press conference that he will move to have Lane prosecuted as an adult.
He will face at least three charges of aggravated murder.
According to Judge Grendell, Joyce has until March 1 to file charges.
With the expectation that charges against Lane are filed by prosecutors by March 1, Grendell set Lane’s initial court appearance for March 6th at 3pm.
Grendell also set a date of March 19th for a possible bind-over hearing to Geuaga County’s adult court.
The hearing has been set in the event that Lane is tried as an adult for the alleged murders.
Judge Grendell also issued the juvenile equivalent of a gag-order with the case, a point to which both the prosecution and defense agreed.
Lane is accused of shooting five students in various areas of Chardon High School on Monday morning. Three of those students have died from injuries suffered in the attack.
Lane is the only individual arrested in connection with the shooting.
Danny Parmertor (Photo provided to Fox 8 News by the Parmertor family.)
The Cuyahoga County medical examiner’s office on Tuesday released the official cause of death of the first student who died from injuries suffered in the Chardon High School Shooting.
Daniel Parmertor, 16, died of a gunshot wound to the head with skull and brain injuries.
Parmertor was the first of three students to expire from his wounds.
On Monday, a total of five students were shot.
A day later, one remained hospitalized as Chardon Local Schools canceled classes and flags were flown at half-staff throughout the sleepy community known for heavy snowfall.
MetroHealth Medical Center confirmed that a third student victim from the Chardon High School shootings has died.
Photo of Demetrius Hewlin
Demetrius Hewlin passed away Tuesday morning.
Through Metro, his family issued the following statements:
“We are very saddened by the loss of our son and others in our Chardon community. Demetrius was a happy young man who loved life and his family and friends. We will miss him very much but we are proud that he will be able to help others through organ donation. We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
Less than two hours earlier, Chardon Police Chief Tim McKenna announced that Russell King Jr., 17, of Chardon, was the second victim to die from injuries sustained in the shootings.
Russell King, 17, was killed in the Chardon High School shooting.
King’s family released a statement, saying:
“We would like to thank the public for their continued support. We would also like to extend our sympathy to the families of the victims of this senseless tragedy. We ask that Russell be remembered for who he was, a strong boy with a big heart. He will be missed by many. He was so full of life and we are honoring his wishes to help others by donating his organs. Please respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
This double dose of sad news comes one day after fellow victim Daniel Parmertor, 16, of Chardon, was pronounced dead.
Multiple Fox 8 News sources identified the alleged shooter as Thomas “TJ” Lane. Those sources say that Lane is a student at Lake Academy, a school described on its website as being for “at-risk students.”
The 17-year-old left behind clues about his intentions, but no one thought he was capable of acting on them.
Geauga County Sheriff Daniel McClelland had earlier said that the shootings apparently occurred in multiple locations, seemingly suggesting that the shooter had specific targets in mind. The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit was used to apprehend the suspect “some distance from the school.” Lane is the only individual arrested in connection with the shootings that started at approximately 7:38 a.m. Monday.
Danny Parmertor (Photo provided to Fox 8 News by the Parmertor family.)
McKenna announced on Monday afternoon that Parmertor had died. He also said that two other students, King included, were transported by Life Flight to MetroHealth Medical Center Level One Trauma Center on Cleveland’s near west side. As of Tuesday morning, the unnamed student at Metro was listed in critical condition.
McKenna added that two other students — a 17-year-old male and an 18-year-old female — were transported to Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights with gunshot injuries. Angela Kiska, of the Cleveland Clinic, said Tuesday morning that the teenage boy was in serious condition and the teen girl was stable. The female, later identified as Joy Rickers, was treated and then released on Tuesday
Parmertor’s family released a statement Monday afternoon, just hours after their loved one was killed.
“We are shocked by this senseless tragedy. Danny was a bright young boy who had a bright future ahead of him. The family is torn by this loss. We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
About an hour before the family statement was released, McKenna broke the terrible news by announcing, “We have one deceased student right now.”
A number of vigils were held Monday night to pray for the victims and to help the community deal with the tragedy. Fox 8′s Emily Valdez joined students and others at Chardon Square.
People also gathered at the Chardon Assembly of God.
An official told Fox 8′s Elisa Amigo that some of the victims in the high school shooting were students who attend the Auburn Career Center in Concord Township.
ACC Superintendent Maggie Lynch said that she believes at least three of the five injured students were CHS juniors who are bused daily to the career center.
Chardon Local Schools Superintendent Joseph Bergant II and Community Coordinator Ellen Ondrey were among those who discussed the situation with Fox 8 News on Monday morning. Ondrey said that the high school was on lockdown and that the entire district was in “crisis mode” as police continue to investigate the terrible situation.
Ondrey added that students at the high school and middle school had already started their day and bus runs for elementary school kids were stopped. Arrangements were made to get every CLS student home safely. Parents of high school students were instructed to go to Maple Elementary School to pick up their children.
A parent with whom Fox 8 News talked said that his child had called him from inside the high school. His son suggested that the shootings started in the cafeteria and that a total of five shots were fired.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich issued the following statement:
“Ohio grieves today with the Parmertor family for the tragic loss of their son and brother Danny. It may seem like we’re powerless to reach them right now, but the power of our prayer is great and the Lord is reaching out to them now in ways we cannot fathom. I urge all Ohioans to join me in lifting up this family, the other wounded students and their families and the entire Chardon community at this difficult time. … Please join me in praying for the students who’ve been injured in this horrible crime. Praise goes to the Chardon Police and Geauga County Sheriff’s Office for quickly getting this situation under control. I’ve pledged Ohio’s full support to them, the school and the local community in this difficult time.”
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U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown issued the following statement:
“My thoughts and prayers are with the Chardon community today. I join Ohioans across the state in praying for the speedy recovery of the students that have been injured,” Brown said. “I stand ready to provide whatever assistance possible to the victims and their families—as well as to local, state, and federal law enforcement to ensure that the suspect is brought to justice.”
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Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine issued the following statement:
“Today’s shooting is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families as well as the entire student body and staff at Chardon High School. … The Attorney General’s Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is on the scene and will be assisting local law enforcement in processing the crime scene. BCI and our office will do all we can to help in this investigation.”
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Ohio Department of Education Superintendent Stan Heffner issued the following statement:
“My deepest sympathies are with the students and their families, staff and teachers of the Chardon School District and the Chardon community as they work through the tragic incident on their school campus this morning. Please keep them in your thoughts today. I appreciate the quick response to this situation by Superintendent Bergandt and law enforcement and first responders to protect the students and to quickly apprehend the persons responsible for this horrific act.”
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State Senator John Eklund issued the following statement:
“I ask that you join me in extending the sincerest thoughts and prayers to the students and families that have been affected by this morning’s tragedy. I would also like to commend the swift and effective efforts of local law enforcement entities as they continue to assess this situation. Our hearts and minds will remain with the Chardon community throughout this time.”
Multiple churches held prayer vigils Monday evening in response to the high school shooting. More are planned for Tuesday. Click here for complete details.
Stick with Fox 8 News and FOX8.com for more information on this tragic story as it becomes available.
