A sad week in NE Ohio

[HillPete]

I'm sure by now most have you have heard about the school shooting in the high school in Chardon, Ohio. Chardon is about 20 minutes away from where I live, and while I do not know anyone personally who attends the high school, the boy who died yesterday was the next door neighbor of one of the people who works at my sons' school. He was also the grandson of a man who taught/coached many of the parents of my boys' friends. They have confirmed now that a second boy has passed away from his injuries.

Again, this doesn't affect me or my family closely, but explaining this type of tragedy to my 11 and 9 year olds is something I never thought I'd have to do. It's so senseless and unpredictable, and extra scary because it happened in our community. It's so much more difficult to discuss with the kids than when our cat died last month. At least she was old and sick!

Anyway, please keep the Chardon, Ohio community in your thoughts and prayers and be sure to hug your kids/loved ones a few extra times today.

--Hillary

 

[SGB13]

So sorry to hear about the second death. I too spent this morning explaining what had happened to my two kids. They had heard some about it on the radio. We send them to school each day to learn and be safe. Never do we expect a schoolmate to do this. So sad.

 

[SwirlyGirly]

So upsetting! As a mom of a 10yo and 6yo, and as a NE OH native, my heart is hurting for the Chardon community.

 

[ADP]

I grew up about 30 minutes away....Our high school plays Chardon High School in football every year. When I saw the news break yesterday it was hard to believe it happened so close to where I used to live.

 

[WaltD4Me]

My mom just called me to tell me a second student died this morning. It's so sad, I can't even express it. Please keep the families in your thoughts and prayers. Such a senseless waste. We are all kind of in shock here. I'm about 15 minutes from Chardon and my niece has several friends that go to Chardon High School, she was a wreck yesterday.

 

[HillPete]

I just found out that two of the three boys that passed have donated their organs. What brave and heroic parents to think of others in a time of such incredible grief.

 

[sayhello]

I just found out that two of the three boys that passed have donated their organs. What brave and heroic parents to think of others in a time of such incredible grief.

Wow! That is incredible.

Sayhello

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all those affected - directly and indirectly. This is indeed a sad, sad week...
Sending prayers.
Gretchen

 

[*NikkiBell*]

This past weekend, my family and I had a conversation about the mandated drills, including active shooter alerts/lockdowns, in schools throughout New Jersey. Yesterday afternoon, we had one after I just learned of what took place in Ohio. It's definitely scary out there, and I am glad that schools are doing what they can to protect students and their teachers.

My thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy.

 

[tggrrstarr]

My in laws live in Chardon and my DH went to Chardon Highschool. While we don't personally know anyone from this tragedy, we do know some people who do. This truly was a horrible event with so far no known reason.

 

[baby1disney]

Unfortunately, another student has died..so now this makes three. While I understand the hurt and anger of the victims families, I also feel for the shooter's family because they too have lost a child. From what I've seen and heard, the shooter's parents are just besides themselves. Also, kids at the school said that he was a quiet kid and wasn't a trouble maker. I am in no means defending this kid, all I'm saying is there must have been something troubling him in order for him to snap like this. This is just a tragedy all around for both sides...

 

[hockeymomNS]

Prayers sent with warm thoughts.
You are right, there are several families destroyed by this.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Unfortunately, another student has died..so now this makes three. While I understand the hurt and anger of the victims families, I also feel for the shooter's family because they too have lost a child. From what I've seen and heard, the shooter's parents are just besides themselves. Also, kids at the school said that he was a quiet kid and wasn't a trouble maker. I am in no means defending this kid, all I'm saying is there must have been something troubling him in order for him to snap like this. This is just a tragedy all around for both sides...

Make that the shooter's grandparents, they have been raising him since he was five. His "parents" haven't really been in his life for years. I do feel for the grandparents. They interviewed their next door neighbor and he said they are completely devastated.

 

[bellamama]

So very sad......such a tragedy when young lives are cut short for any reason.