'Die, All of You': Chardon, Ohio High School the Site of Another School Shooting

By Keith A Fournier
2/28/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Why are our children shooting one another?

What was once inconceivable has happened again; a shooting at a High School. When the horror and panic was over, one student was dead, four others injured, a small Ohio town was devastated - and a Nation was left to once again ask the haunting question, "Why?"

TJ Lane, the alleged and accused perpetrator

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CHARDON, Ohio (Catholic Online) - UPDATED: The evening brought an update to this sad story. The medical examiner has announced that one more of the victims of the Chardon High School shooting is dead. His name is Russell King Jr. and he was 17 years old. (Editor)

What was once inconceivable has happened again; a shooting at a High School apparently perpetrated by a student. When the horror and accompanying panic occasioned by this act of violence was over, one student was dead, four others were injured, a small Ohio town was devastated - and an entire Nation was left to once again ask the haunting question, "Why?"

Chardon, Ohio, about 30 miles outside of Cleveland, is home to approximately 5100 residents. The local High School has 1100 students. One of the students named Thomas "T.J." Lane is now in police custody. He is suspected of being a murderer. His crime spree was apparently interrupted when a courageous teacher chased him out of the School building thereby preventing even more bloodshed.

It all began around 7:30 A.M. on Monday, February 27, 2012. Students were eating breakfast in the High School Cafeteria. What was a normal part of their routine would soon be interrupted by an act of evil, perpetrated by their own classmate.

Law Enforcement officials would not comment on the details of the crime since the investigation is only just beginning. However, one of the students, a 15 year old named Danny Komertz, witnessed the shooting. He gave an account to local reporters which included these words,"I looked up and this kid was pointing a gun about 10 feet away from me to a group of four kids sitting at a table."

As the Nation tries to make sense out of another shooting in another High school, the speculation concerning the event filled the airwaves and the World Wide Web. It ranged from accounts of the lone gunmen having himself been the victim of bullying to his having been angry over the loss of a girlfriend to one of the students whom he shot. None of this has been confirmed.

In addition, in this age of Social Media, the following strange letter which was allegedly posted on the suspects Facebook page in December of 2011 has been released : "In a time long since, a time of repent, The Renaissance. In a quaint lonely town, sits a man with a frown. No job. No family. No crown. His luck had run out. Lost and alone."

"The streets were his home. His thoughts would solely consist of "why do we exist?" His only company to confide in was the vermin in the street. He longed for only one thing, the world to bow at his feet."

"They too should feel his secret fear. The dismal drear. His pain had made him sincere. He was better than the rest, all those ones he detests, within their castles, so vain. Selfish and conceited."

"They couldn't care less about the peasents they mistreated. They were in their own world; it was a joyous one too. That castle, she stood just to do all she could to keep the peasants at bay, not the enemy away."

"They had no enemies in their filthy orgy. And in her, the castles every story, was just another chamber of Lucifer's Laboratory. The world is a sandbox for all the wretched sinners."

"They simply create what they want and make themselves the winners. But the true winner, he has nothing at all. Enduring the pain of waiting for that castle to fall. Through his good deeds, the rats and the fleas."

"He will have for what he pleads, through the eradication of disease. So, to the castle he proceeds, like an ominous breeze through the trees. "Stay back!" The Guards screamed as they were thrown to their knees. "Oh God, have mercy, please!"

"The castle, she gasped and then so imprisoned her breath, to the shallow confines of her fragile chest. I'm on the lamb but I ain't no sheep. I am Death. And you have always been the sod. So repulsive and so odd."

"You never even deserved the presence of God, and yet, I am here. Around your cradle I plod. Came on foot, without shod. How improper, how rude. However, they shall not mind the mud on my feet if there is blood on your sheet."

"Now! Feel death, not just mocking you. Not just stalking you but inside of you. Wriggle and writhe. Feel smaller beneath my might. Seizure in the Pestilence that is my scythe. Die, all of you."

The student killed in this shocking incident was identified as Daniel Parmertor. The people of Chardon are mourning, and praying. Several area churches have announced prayer vigils which will be held over the next few days. In addition, counselors have begun meeting with students and the families of the victims.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Chardon, Ohio, Cahrdon High School, School shooting, fatal shooting, school violence, Thomas TJ Lane, Keith A Fournier

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1 - 10 of 11 Comments

Bulbajer
1 year ago
So very sad. JayKaye, great comment.
John Mainhart
1 year ago
We have created a culture in society and our public schools that emphasizes "self esteem" which emphazises our ability to rely on ourselves and our minds to answer all questions that life poses for us. This kind of self- centeredness makes those of us who have little or no support from faith-giving people vulnerable to the worst aspects of human existence. We teach our youth by our actions that God is not necessary; we make ourselves god, so we can survive. The values we adopt for our lives when we become that self- centered are not values that serve us or our fellow human beings well. In extreme cases these values make us lonely, and because other self- centered people do not understand us,. we feel isolated.
We need to emphasize the values our Creator gave us to find love in this world and we need to provide time to thank Him in school and elsewhere for the grace to use these values most of the time.
Paul
1 year ago
Sad,but apretty good poet.
Patricia
1 year ago
God have mercy on the souls of the dead and on those who are critically injured. There is not doubt about the factor that "gothic" which is equivalent to demonic, is what is the catalyst for this young man's chilling words and his actions. The demons he encountered and invited into his life through the gothic culture, demanded blood and used him to bring about death and physical harm. Gothic is not a harmless, trendy, cultural lifestyle. It is an entrance into the things of darkness. Pray for our children to be delivered from this and all lifestyles of the culture of death.
rafaelmarie
1 year ago
LACK OF SCHOOL PRAYER, LACK OF PROTECTION FROM sATAN!
Cathy S
1 year ago
Take the guns away from the "gun crazy"? Are you not aware that criminals always have guns, no matter what gun control laws are imposed? Are you not aware that those states with the least amount of gun-control, those with concealed carry laws, have the least amount of crime, particularly violent crime? The problem here had nothing to do with guns and everything to do with mental health issues and the ways our public schools are being run.
John Baysson
1 year ago
"One clear message::: Take the guns away from so many hands that are gun crazy!!! What are we waiting for???"

Exactly John. We reap what we sow.
Daniel
1 year ago
Your answer is not clear. It is shallow and opaque. A ban on guns is not the answer. In today's world, too many variables were likely responsible for this act. My friends and I were gun crazy in high school, even bringing them to school without others knowing. Did we kill, or attempt to kill anyone? No. We went water fowl hunting after school.
JayKaye
1 year ago
The out of the ordinary events we see from time to time always raise the same question of, "How in the world can anyone do such a thing". The answer is overwhelmingly apparent in this twisted youngsters writings released in this article. There is always a 'loner' element, along with separation from meaningful relationships, especially immediate family. It's the human mind of painful isolation. In most cases attempts to spirituality come as a last resort. Often far misguided of church teachings, these twisted individuals become their own hero of sorts, being the one with all the answers. In his perception of the world, God, and those around him, he was misunderstood, free of sin, yet the others didn't see it, so they must face the wrath of a god through him. To put it all in very simple terms, the isolation he felt and perhaps created through his mental illness, drove him crazy. The saddest part of it all is that it could have been prevented, if only someone had reached out to him, showing simple human kindness. In that kindness, is a reason to continue living in the "real" world. Somewhere, he lost out on this.
John
1 year ago
One clear message::: Take the guns away from so many hands that are gun crazy!!! What are we waiting for???

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