CHARDON, OH -
The family of a teenager suspected of opening fire in the cafeteria of a suburban Cleveland high school, killing one student and wounding four others, says it is "devastated" by the shootings.
In a statement issued to WKYC-TV in Cleveland Monday night, a lawyer representing the family of T.J. Lane offered "their most heartfelt and sincere condolences" to the family of slain student Daniel Parmertor, adding that they are praying for the four other injured students from Chardon High School.
Lawyer Robert Farinacci says Lane's family is trying to understand how the tragedy happened.
The shooting Monday morning sent students at the 1,100-student school screaming through the halls.
The FBI says the suspect was arrested near his car a half-mile from Chardon. He was not immediately charged.
Original story
Police investigating a deadly school shooting in Ohio aren't commenting on what may have led a student to open fire on fellow classmates. But a 15-year-old student who witnessed the shooting says the gunman was an outcast who had apparently been bullied.
It happened at Chardon High School in the small town of Chardon, Ohio about 30 miles from Cleveland. One student was killed and four others were wounded. The suspect, whose name hasn't been released, was arrested near his car a half-mile away.
An Ohio education official said Monday night the suspect attends a school for at-risk children.
Text messages and tweets started flying inside and outside the school instantly spreading information about what was happening as the attack took place.
The town of around 5,100 is still reeling, trying to piece together how and why their community was ripped apart by gunfire.
The gunshots rang out before the first bell at Chardon High School Monday morning.
"That's when I looked to see what was happening 'cause it sounded like a fire cracker almost," said Nate Muller, student.
Muller quickly learned it wasn't fireworks but a full-on attack. A fellow student - armed with a handgun - was systematically firing on classmates gathered in the school cafeteria.
"We were the table right next to him. He was three feet from us and three of the victims were from my table," said Muller, who was grazed by a gunshot.
"Right here on my ear. As I was turning away from the gunman he caught me right on the ear. I got lucky, had somebody looking over me I guess," he said.
That was not the case for five of his classmates. One was killed during the rampage and four others were rushed to local hospitals.
"I certainly hope those families know that they are in our thoughts and prayers," said Joseph Bergant II, superintendent of Chardon City Schools.
Heather Ziska says she was in the Chardon High School outside cafeteria Monday at about 7:30 a.m. when she and other students began hearing popping noises in a nearby hallway.
See a compilation of tweets from students during and after the incident. (Note: This links to a page off WTHR.com and contains some profanity.)
The 17-year-old junior says she then saw a boy with a gun who she recognized as a fellow student come into the cafeteria and start shooting.
She says she and several others immediately ran outside, while other friends ran into a middle school and others locked themselves in a teachers' lounge.
Another student, senior Jonathan Sylak, was near the cafeteria when he heard loud popping noises followed by people screaming and beginning to run.
Witnesses describe the gunman as silent and determined during the attack. The teenager was apparently forced from the building by a teacher and then surrendered to bystanders a few blocks from the school.
Many caught in the cross-fire say they never saw any clues the suspect might turn violent.
"I don't think anyone expected it to be him, you know?" said Muller.
"Never, never would you ever think this. I mean, it's one of your worst nightmares. You don't think would ever happen," said a parent.
Unfortunately it is all too real for this community now struggling to understand how and why it happened and what comes next.
Student: Ohio school shooter targeted victims
A student who witnessed the shooting says it appeared the gunman was targeting a group of students sitting at a cafeteria table.
Freshman Danny Komertz says he was just about to leave for his first-period health class Monday when he heard a loud popping sound and then saw the gunman open fire.
He says one student who authorities say was killed was trying to get under a table to protect himself and shield his face.
Komertz says the shooter was known as an outcast who had apparently been bullied.
The 15-year-old Komertz says that there were at least 100 students in the cafeteria at the time and that most fled immediately as shots were fired.
This story was compiled from reports by NBC and The Associated Press.
Screen shot of the high school (courtesy WBNS)
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