Ohio shooting victim's mom: He didn't deserve it

One of the boys who was killed at Chardon High School in Ohio on Monday was Danny Parmertor, the middle child in his family. He had an older brother and a younger sister. He studied computer science. His parents say there was no question he couldn't answer.

CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller spoke with Danny's mother and father, Dina and Bob Parmertor, and Danny's older brother Dominic.

They told Michelle they wanted a chance to talk about Danny. When the Parmertor's sat down for the interview they were wearing Danny's clothes. Mrs. Parmertor is a nurse and says she heard about the shooting while driving home from the night shift.

"I turned on the radio, and they were talking about it. I had a sick feeling in my stomach, I didn't know why, and I did, I really did. And I was scared for him. I don't know why, and I just tried to call him. Nothing. He didn't answer, and I left a message: 'Danny, It's mom, call me back," Dina said.

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Later, Dina got a call from Danny's cell phone.

"I thought, 'Oh, he's calling me. It was commotion and it was some fire chief or something, I don't know, and he said, 'Danny is being life-flighted to Metro hospital right now. You have to go to metro. I said I want to talk to him," Dina said.

At the time, rescuers were performing CPR on Danny.

"I said, 'Don't go, Danny, don't go," Dina said.

"He fought, but he just didn't have no brain waves left," Bob said.

The Parmertors said they are still shocked at what happened.

"I have think about going to a funeral home, picking out a casket. What is that, picking out a casket for your son? We're supposed to go and pick out colleges and supposed to go visit Ohio State next month. I'm mad now. I'm mad," Dina said.

"I know my life will never be the same again. I will get better, but right now, I'll never be, there will always (be) something missing," Bob said.

Danny's parents say they want their son to be remembered as "a funny, loveable kid who would help you with anything."

"He was 16 years old. He doesn't get to live his life. It was taken. He didn't do anything to anybody. He just didn't deserve it," Dina said.

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[mattrick78]

Heartbreaking...

[NT014]

Some of the comments say its the parents fault for not being there or the uncle for having the guns. Do you then believe the gunman (gunchild?) was not at fault? something to think about.

[hayseedbears]

No one's children deserve it. My heart is breaking for you. I cannot begin to imagine the pain you are feeling.
Wake up America. The parents are responsible for this crap. We (as parents) have opted out of our childrens lives too often. The government and school system cannot take the place of Parental Involvement.
I may be naieve. But I watched my kids and knew when they had problems. Yes, one of my kids was bullied (it is not new, I was bullied myself) and I took action. You do what ever you have to do. And no law, no governmental agency, would have stopped me from doing what I knew was right for my child. Quit letting TV, the internet, grandparents, the "system" raise your kids. Do it yourselves!

[dudz1234]

Dina and Bob. I can't imagine the pain you are feeling. I can only imagine as a mother of 3 how I would feel. As a Euclid grad (like Bob) and a nurse at Hillcrest (like Dina), you are like family, although we've never met. I pray that God gets you through this difficult time. I know my heart will be with you and your family.

[bereasonable14]

If the shooter did not get his hands on his uncle's gun (bought legally as reported by CNN) three innocent teenagers in all probability would not have died. This has nothing to do with the Second Amendment: we need enforceable laws to prevent children and unstable persons to be able to get guns. This boy's family is responsible for allowing him easy access to guns (they regularly had target practice on their 40 acre property.)

[NB62]

The NRA has more blood on its hands.If only the politican had a backbone and pass a law to put this terrorist group out of business once and for all

[lmmuzic]

The NRA has nothing to do with this. FOCUS! This kid's weapon could have been bleach, acid, a bomb, whatever. This is mental illness, plain and simple. The kid was screaming out for help.

[bereasonable14]

To immuzic: Bleach and acid would not get three innocent people killed, bomb takes time and knowledge to build, but guns were just lying in his grandparents' house. This has everything to do with NRA - large portion of inhabitants of Chardon are NRA members.

[lmmuzic]

To bereasonable14: Bleach, bombs, gasoline & lighters whatever. You totally missed the point. Anything can be used as a weapon to kill someone and the gun and knife he carried in to school should not have been accessible. Until we deal with mental illness by recognizing the signs and proactively getting help for the person, we will continue to see TJ Lanes all over the world, not just Chardon, OH. I don't know where you get your information that a "large portion of inhabitants of Chardon are NRA members." I do know that America's 2nd Amendment allows us to bear arms if we choose. I have lived in Chardon for 12 years. I don't own a gun and neither do any of my neighbors. Where do you get your information?

[debbie1120]

I can't imagine what these parents have to go through. I hope I never will have to go through this. Prayers go out to the families who lost their children.

[credibility2]

I don't care what any of the bleeding hearts have convinced themselves of as being fact...there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for this type of vicious murderous behavior...if anyone is to blame, it is the parents for not properly raising and taking care of their kid...they apparently ignored his insecurities and hoped others would make him feel all nice and cozy and accepted and special...bullying is a fact of life, whether in childhood, adolescence or adulthood...it is the responsibility of the so-called victim to learn how deal with reality and ignore it...I hope this kid is tried as an adult and then gets either life in prison without parole or preferably the death penalty...he doesn't deserve to live any longer since he thought nothing about the lives he took...our system panders and accommodates criminals too much and quickly... forgets the victims and their families...

[mari1963]

Amen to that! And we'll probably never hear from the parents of the shooter due to this stupid gag order. I want to know what they have to say for themselves!

[dudley58]

It is attitudes like yours that will see to it something like this happens again....simply turn a blind eye to kids being brutalized in our school systems, calling it a "fact of life". Was what this kid did justified? Absolutely not. You probably have no clue what it is like to get up every weekday and go to a place where you are an outcast, no matter how hard you try to fit in...and there are a select few that have your number and push your buttons every single day...yet your answer is "deal with it" or "ignore it". Until bullying is addressed you will hear more stories just like this one.

[lmmuzic]

Interesting that your username is credibility2. If you'd have paid attention to the story and gotten your facts before you commented, you would actually be credible. 1) The kid's parents are divorced 2) the father and the kid had a history of domestic violence 3) the kid lives with his grandparents so if the parents don't see him on a daily basis, how are they to get him the help he needs? 4) he wasn't bullied- it was random 5) He was already identified as an at-risk kid
When this country better understands mental illness and the signs to look for instead of ignoring it, kids like TJ Lane will get the help they need. How would you like to start your day out with the "regular" school population and then be bussed off to special school? When we label people,they become what we label them.

[tmonta67]

Remember Don Henley and "Dirty Laundry"?


"I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something, something I can use
People love it when you lose, they love dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em all around

We got the bubbleheaded bleach-blonde, comes on at 5
She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye
It's interesting when people die, give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet?
You know the boys in the newsroom got a running bet
Get the widow on the set, we need dirty laundry...."

Shame on this interviewer, shame on CBS news. This family is destroyed and the show of phony empathy from this woman was APPALLING. God Bless and comfort this family.

[dudley58]

I agree....so very well said.

[NT014]

I think you have it wrong about Michelle Miller. The full interview is on line - you can see how she gets chocked up and has tears. Its all in the editing. Do you really think people are that cold hearted?

[commenter777]

These outcasts that kill a lot of times have been sexually abused by catholic priest, etc, beat for sport by step-dads and bullied by kids at school that want to make themselves feel good at someone else's expense. And teachers and parents and school districts don't do near enough to stop bullying. Stop bullying in schools and this would be a much better planet for all to live on.

[lmmuzic]

He wasn't bullied.