The Chardon High School Massacre—6 Years Later
It doesn’t even count as mass murder,
Only three children dead, another paralyzed,
Another gravely wounded, a sixth nicked.
The shooter, T.J. Lane, an insecure boy from a destroyed
family,
Shot up his table in the cafeteria before classes began.
A 22-caliber handgun—almost quaint in this brave new world
Where children are mowed down with weapons of war.
At least two hero teachers, Frank Hall, chasing down the shooter,
And Joe Ricci, running in to a hallway where bullets were
flying,
Rescuing Nick Walczak, the boy permanently paralyzed.
Three boys lay mortally wounded, Danny Parmertor,
Russell King, Jr., and Demetrius Hewlin.
Joy Rickers wounded, Nate Mueller grazed.
Two funerals at St. Mary’s Church, across the street from
the high school,
Thousands of people forming a human chain to protect the
funeral mass
From threatened protest by Westboro Baptist Church.
The community did everything it could think of to support
the students,
Their families, and the families of the deceased, but . . .
The spirits and bodies and dreams and hopes of so many
Were shredded by unfeeling bullets fired
By the desperately unhappy boy, who
Will spend the rest of his days in prison.
Robert M. Coughlin / February 27, 2018
