The accused shooter, a 14-year-old juvenile, was a member of the eighth-grade Mohawk wrestling team -- as was one of his victims -- at Madison Junior-Senior High School, located between Cincinnati and Dayton. Two students were shot, while two others were otherwise injured but not wounded in the incident which took place in the school cafeteria at approximately 11:15 a.m. ET Monday.
The two wounded students were air flighted to a Dayton hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and are expected to be released this week. The other two students who may have been injured by shrapnel or in an attempt to flee the shooter were treated and released.
The suspected shooter used a .380 caliber handgun which he obtained from a family member, according to police. After the shooting, he ran out of the school, dropping the weapon outside the building. Police K-9 units found the accused shooter and weapon within minutes.
The Madison Junior/Senior High wrestling coach, Stan Oligee, declined comment when contacted by the Cincinnati Enquirer, saying the incident was "too raw" to discuss.
However, at least two upper-class members of the wrestling team commented on the alleged shooter, who they knew because the middle school and high school teams conduct practice together.
"He's real nice, he's friendly with everyone, everyone's usually real nice to him," Madison sophomore Jordan Eslick told WXIX-TV, the Fox affiliate in Cincinnati. "I don't ever see him get picked on or have a problem with anyone."
"It was his first year on the wrestling team and we were actually pretty good friends. It didn't seem like anything was wrong with him, like he was bullied, he got along with everyone and I was really shocked when I heard it was him," Eslick said.
Eslick added that he was unaware of any problems between the alleged shooter and the teammate who was shot.
Jacob Farler, a senior on Madison Sr. High School's wrestling team, told WDTN, the Dayton ABC station, "We didn't personally know them too well because they were in junior high. We still saw them at practice every day. It's kind of just a surreal thing."
Farler added that what happened Monday did not line up with what he knew of the accused shooter. "He usually had a smile on his face. He seemed happy. Joking around and everything."
When asked why the shooting may have taken place, Farler told WDTN he had no idea.
The alleged gunman has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, one count of inducing panic and one count of making terroristic threats, the Butler County Sheriff's Office said Monday. He is being held at the Butler County Juvenile Detention Center. On Tuesday an attorney for the 14-year-old boy entered a denial of charges, the juvenile equivalent of a not guilty plea. The case may be moved to adult court.
Meanwhile, the Madison Mohawk team has traveled to Columbus for the 2016 Ohio high school state wrestling championships. One wrestler, Nick Svarda, made it to the 220-pound finals, but was pinned. He had been state champ in 2015.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now