Hundreds honor Ohio school shooting victim

The hearse carrying 16-year-old Daniel Parmertor leaves St. Mary's Church following funeral services in Chardon, Ohio on Saturday, March 3, 2012. Parmertor and two other students were fatally shot Monday at Chardon High School. / AP Photo/Amy Sancetta

(AP) CHARDON, Ohio - Hundreds of people stood shoulder to shoulder along the street on a cold, windy Saturday morning to honor one of three teenagers killed in a high school shooting.

The service in Chardon for 16-year-old Daniel Parmertor is the first of the three funerals. Services for 16-year-old Demetrius Hewlin and 17-year-old Russell King Jr. will be held next week.

Parmertor's family said they planned to bury him with his first paycheck — still unopened — from his new job at a bowling alley, The Plain Dealer reports.

Those honoring the teen wore the school's colors of red and black and huddled in hoods, knit hats and blankets. They held U.S. flags and signs featuring red hearts and saying "We are One Heartbeat." Some expressed continued disbelief about the Monday attack.

Parmertor was remembered as a computer whiz and for his laugh and wit, WJW-TV reported.

Two other students were seriously wounded when a gunman opened fire in the cafeteria at Chardon High School, about 30 miles east of Cleveland. One remains in serious condition; a second has been released from the hospital.

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The Mass was held at the Church of St. Mary across the street from the school complex where the attack occurred. It's the same church where thousands showed up for a vigil earlier this week.

On Friday, hundreds had waited hours in cold rain to pay respects to the teen at a funeral home in nearby Eastlake. He was to be buried at a Chardon cemetery.

Charges filed in juvenile court accuse 17-year-old T.J. Lane of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and felonious assault. Lane's next hearing is Tuesday.

Prosecutor David Joyce said the motive for the shooting remains unclear. He said the victims were selected randomly, and he called the suspect someone "who's not well."

Classes resumed at the 1,100-student school on Friday with police on hand.

[craigs01]

The title says honor shooting victim. In todays society the shooter has already been listed as the victim; from day one.

So did they honor the shooter or the hunted? I know the answer of course in regards to this specific article but that's the world we live in.

I've yet to see the facts of this case come out; I guess all we're going to see is teddy bears, flowers, and hear how bullying is a problem.

Why is it when I was in school kids were bullied and nobody brought guns to school? Why do shootings happen at schools; aren't they gun-free zones?

Those are the questions I have. I think the answers are this kid was on either prescription mind-altering drugs or illegal drugs and because of all the bullying stuff that has gone on in the media he felt justified in his actions.

Teddy bears, flowers, etc... aren't bringing anyone back but what can prevent things like this is when students notice their classmates that are like this one; something is done about it. If you have 1 kid being 'bullied' perhaps it's because they are the problem and the situation should be looked into to prevent things like this in the future.

Unless I read that the bully(s) put the gun(s) in his hands and made him pull the trigger the only one accountable for this is the person that made the decision.

[tmn]

"Why did a large segment of the community bully and torment a young teenager?"
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That IS the unanswered question. This horrible incident happened for a reason - it was not just totally random. We need to find out why, to hopefully prevent the next similar incident from occurring.

[smittyc]

The community should reflect on their total behavior. If you read all about the history of the shooter. His home had bolts and locks everywhere, like a prison except it is quite clear where he lived was trying to keep out intruders. Who would those intruders have been, and why did a large segment of the community bully and torment a young teenager? The song who's sorry now comes to mind here.