http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/21/tenn.school.shooting.ap/index.html KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (AP) -- A student fatally shot a 16-year-old classmate during a dispute Thursday at a Knoxville high school, and a suspect was taken into custody moments later on a nearby street, authorities said. Students and staff wait outside Central High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, after a fatal shooting Thursday. The shooting happened shortly after 8 a.m. at the Central High School cafeteria, Chief Deputy Bill Roehl said. The suspect and victim knew each other, said Knox County School System Superintendent Bill McIntyre. "This wasn't a shooting that was a random act," Roehl said. "It was an individual directing his aggression toward another individual, not the school or the students inside the school." Authorities haven't released the names of the victim, who died at University of Tennessee Medical Center, or the suspect. No other students were injured. The school was placed on lockdown after the shooting. School officials were preparing to release students one classroom at a time, then bus them to a church so they could be picked up by their parents. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New school year and it's already turned deadly.
Exactly what I thought, schools have been in session for less than a week in most places. Its a shame to see young lives thrown away like this, something that unfortunately isn't that rare but it makes your stomach turn every time you hear it.
They just had that church shooting down there a short while ago too. People in K-town have to be wondering what in the world is going on these days. Very sad.
The alleged perp is identified as 15-year-old Jamar Siler. "UPDATED 8/21/08 1:58 p.m.: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The Knoxville News-Sentinel is reporting that the suspect in Thursdays shooting at Central High School has been identified as 15-year-old Jamar Siler. Siler is being questioned in the shooting death of 15-year-old Central High School junior Ryan McDonald." http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/27220659.html Image Unavailable, Please Login
That face contains a lot of emotion. *rolling eyes* So was the victim 15 or 16? I wish news agencies would start figuring out true facts first, instead of being the first to divulge info.
I had the exact same thought when I saw his picture. Looks quite calm for someone who allegedly just killed a fellow classmate.
Apparently the problems had started earlier that morning. The victim, Ryan McDonald, was also 15. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/aug/21/family-friends-say-victims-tough-exterior-hid-gene/ Image Unavailable, Please Login
That brings a tear to my eye, what kind of lowlife would do something like that to others. I want to full story on what happened.
That's really sad. Sounds like he did have a rough time growing up. With his disease and his mom in jail, who knows what else... It says at the bottom that one "friend"; "Elsewhere, friend Kaine Pirkle, 16, said Ryan had a reputation as a bully and told other teens he had been battling cancer." I wonder if he was deemed a bully because he was one, or did he have to look like the bigger kid to lessen the taunts? Or was he just a typical kid full of energy? Very sad everytime another shooting happens.
Sad news all around; Ryan's father is in prison as well and the shooter was reportedly on probation. Timeline with updates as they occur
Basically I'm saying guns and school don't mix, there are students out there with more problems and know not to bring deadly weapons to school. Not like the mother asks them did you put your 9mm in your book bag with your lunch.....
Things like this just make me want to send my son to school next month even more and more, God what is this world coming to when 15 year old kids start getting guns and taking them to school and killing someone. You know I read things like this and I set back and think, "Don't they think what is going to happen to them if they do something like this?"
I agree with you 100%, the parents can't stop the kids from getting the guns but they sure as hell can teach them a little common sense and right from wrong, weather the kids take this advise is up to them. I believe that for the most part if you raise a kid good, he or she will turn out to be good.
From the sound of it, he shot him over an argument on the bus. Wow, wtf. Some kid is arguing with you on the bus, and he decide, "Hey, I'm gonna shoot him because I can't take harsh words". Seriously, I'm not supporting bullying or anything of that nature, but if you can't take a kid arguing with you (which I bet was over something stupid), then maybe you're going to the wrong kind of school.
I've been involved in a school shooting. I was a sophmore in high school (16). We were waiting for the bell to ring and all the sudden BANG!. Smoke and paper particles floating in the air. I look over and see a girl grab the desk with pain on her face and fall to the floor. As I ran over you see blood start pooling through her jeans. She was shot in the knee. It was an accidental shooting, the gun went off when he picked up his back pack and the kid had ran off. He was a quiet kid and never caused any problems (had known him since 7th grade). He lived in a bad area, and he told the cops he carried it for protection when he got off the bus. Whether that was true or not I have no clue. Ironically, the girl it his was his good friend. I could have easily hit anyone of us. It was directly behind him, within probably 5-7 feet.