Minutes earlier, school officials had notified them that a shooting had taken place at the nearby high school. However, without confirmation of details, rumors were prevalent, like that there were two or three gunmen, some still loose, and several students shot.
Those who hadn’t yet heard from their children through text messages or phone calls said they just wanted to hear their loved ones were safe. Many, such as the parents of one high school student, were bleary-eyed, staring in a stupor-like state. “I’m in disbelief,” the man said. “I just can’t think right now.”
Robert Siebold, whose two grandchildren attend the high school, said he was “really scared. I found out what happened and I flew right over here.” A teary eyed mother whose son doesn’t have a cell phone said, “It’s been really hard to find out if he’s OK.”
One nervous father said he was “absolutely devastated. I’m scared out of my mind. (My son is) in lockdown. He was talking to me from underneath his desk. I just want my son out of there.”
Between tears, a mother said, “We just want our kids, we just want to know that our kids are all right. I just want to hold my kid.” Not scheduled to report to class until later in the day, a ninth-grade student waited for his brother who had gone to school earlier that morning.
He said he was deeply concerned and that the shooting seemed out of character for Chardon Schools.
Some agreed.
“I just can’t believe of all places — Chardon,” one man said. “You come to live in this part of town because you think everything’s going to be safe. (This is) … scary.”
Obviously grief-stricken while talking to one of the dozens of media representatives on the scene, a single father spoke of the situation.
“This is not something you would expect here at this locale,” he said. “You hear about it but you don’t know… you don’t know.”
Once safety was established, officials eventually began allowing parents inside the school — five at a time — to retrieve their children.
Most who emerged hugged their children closely while walking quickly to their cars.
Meanwhile, local and national media attempted to obtain news of any details of the shooting and officials from dozens of law enforcement agencies filled the campus.
Later, as high school students were released, some gave their personal accounts.
Hailey Tarbet, a ninth-grade
student, said she was in her first-period class doing board work when
she heard teachers screaming “Lockdown” along with doors slamming shut.
She thought it was a drill until other kids said they heard gunshot
shots and screams.
Lindsey Kolinsky was in the library when she said she heard the school principal make an announcement.
“He was yelling, ‘We’re on lockdown’ … and I knew it was real when I heard the tone of his voice,” she said. “I’m glad I’m OK and I’m praying for the kids who got hurt.”
Larry Kolinksy, Lindsey’s father, commented that tragedies such as this occur because society has gotten away from religion and teaching their children morals and values.
Ryan Gillespie assumed the lockdown directive was a drill until he saw the police in the halls. Classmates stayed in the room with the lights off and the door closed until it was deemed safe to be released, he said. At that point, the students were lined up in alphabetical order and let out of the classroom one at a time.
One student who said he heard gunshots and was aware the seriousness of the situation said the evacuation was done in an orderly manner.
“I was pretty calm,” he said. “I knew the school would do its job and get me out safely.”
The parent of a senior said she learned of the shooting while watching television and immediately started praying.
After learning of her son’s safety she was relieved, but concerned about the entire incident.
“Everybody in Chardon is like a big family,” she said. “When it hits one person its hits everybody. We feel bad for the (shooter’s family) and for the victims."
Lindsey Kolinsky was in the library when she said she heard the school principal make an announcement.
“He was yelling, ‘We’re on lockdown’ … and I knew it was real when I heard the tone of his voice,” she said. “I’m glad I’m OK and I’m praying for the kids who got hurt.”
Larry Kolinksy, Lindsey’s father, commented that tragedies such as this occur because society has gotten away from religion and teaching their children morals and values.
Ryan Gillespie assumed the lockdown directive was a drill until he saw the police in the halls. Classmates stayed in the room with the lights off and the door closed until it was deemed safe to be released, he said. At that point, the students were lined up in alphabetical order and let out of the classroom one at a time.
One student who said he heard gunshots and was aware the seriousness of the situation said the evacuation was done in an orderly manner.
“I was pretty calm,” he said. “I knew the school would do its job and get me out safely.”
The parent of a senior said she learned of the shooting while watching television and immediately started praying.
After learning of her son’s safety she was relieved, but concerned about the entire incident.
“Everybody in Chardon is like a big family,” she said. “When it hits one person its hits everybody. We feel bad for the (shooter’s family) and for the victims."
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