Watch Video Footage of the Shooting Spree At Cleveland High School

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Shooting Spree At Cleveland High School

Video shot inside the school during the shooting:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/10/11/vo.oh.shooting.inside.school.woio?iref=videosearch

Link to article and video:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/10/national/main3353024.shtml

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A 14-year-old suspended student, dressed in black, opened fire in his downtown high school Wednesday, wounding four people as terrified schoolmates hid in closets and bathrooms and huddled under laboratory desks. He then killed himself.

The 14-year old freshmen at SuccessTech Academy alternative school had been suspended for fighting, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds.

“When he got suspended, he said ‘I got something for you all,’ and I thought he was just playing 'cause he says it all the time,” said a fellow student. “But I see that he was for real.”

“He's crazy. He threatened to blow up our school. He threatened to stab everybody,” Doneisha LeVert said. “We didn't think nothing of it.”

Asa H. Coon was armed with two .38 caliber revolvers, and police found a duffel bag stocked with ammunition and three knives in a bathroom, officials said. Parents were angry that firearms got into a school equipped with metal detectors that students said were intermittently used.

Officials said two teachers and two students were shot, and that a 14-year-old girl fell and hurt her knee while running out of the school.

Witnesses said the shooter moved through the converted five-story downtown office building, working his way up through the first two floors of administrative offices to the third floor of classrooms. Officials said he was wearing a black Marilyn Manson concert shirt, black jeans and black-painted finger nails.

“He just came back and started shooting at people,” a student tells CBS News. “He would just shoot at anybody who was in the hallway, so everybody just ran down the hallway.”

The first person shot, student Michael Peek, had punched Coon in the face right before the shootings began, said student Rasheem Smith, 15.

Coon “came out of the bathroom and bumped Mike and he (Mike) punched him in his face. Mike started walking. He shot Mike in the side.” Peek, 14, didn't know Coon had a gun, Smith said.

Antonio Deberry, 17, said he and his classmates hid under laboratory tables and watched the shooter move down the hallway. “I saw him walking past. He didn't see us, we saw him.” The shooter swore and shot several times, Deberry said.

LeVert said she hid in a closet with two other students after she heard a “Code Blue” alert over the loudspeaker. She said she heard about 10 shots.

Darnell Rodgers, 18, was walking up to another floor when the stairway suddenly became flooded with students.

“It took me a couple of minutes to realize that I was actually shot, when I felt my arm burning in the area, that's when I realized that I had got shot,” Rodgers said.

“They were screaming, and they were saying, 'Oh my God, oh my God.' I knew something was wrong, but thought that it was probably just a fight, so I just kept going,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers was released from a hospital after treatment for a graze wound to his right elbow.

Coon had been suspended since Monday for fighting near the school that day, said Charles Blackwell, president of SuccessTech's student-parent organization. He did not know how Coon got into the building Wednesday.

Blackwell said that there was a security guard on the first floor, but that the position of another guard on the third floor had been eliminated.

Students and parents described the gunman as troubled, Reynolds reports.

“It could have been avoided, because there were warning signs,” said one parent.

Student Frances Henderson, 14, said she often got into arguments with Coon, who once told her, “I got something for you all.” He was a “gothic” who usually wore a trench coat, black boots and a dog collar, she said.

Students stood outside the building, many in tears, hugging one another and on cell phones. Others shouted at reporters with TV cameras to leave them alone. Family members also stood outside, waiting for their children to be released.

Math teacher David Kachadourian, 57, was in good condition; Michael Grassie, a 42-year-old teacher, was in surgery, but his condition was unavailable. The other two injured teens were taken to a children's hospital, which would not release their names, ages or conditions.

Deberry's mother, Lakisha Deberry, said she was upset that metal detectors at the school were not always in use.

“You never know what's going on in someone's mind,” said Deberry, adding that she was required to go through a metal detector and present an identification card whenever she wanted to drop off something at school for her children.

The shooting occurred across the street from the FBI office in downtown Cleveland, and students were being sent to the FBI site.

Classes at all schools in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District will be canceled Thursday, said Eugene Sanders, chief executive officer of the district. Counseling will be available Thursday for students at recreation centers throughout the city, Sanders said.

SuccessTech Academy is an alternative high school in the public school district that stresses technology and entrepreneurship. It is housed on several floors of the district's downtown Cleveland Lakeside Avenue administration building.

“It's a shining beacon for the Cleveland Metropolitan School system,” said John Zitzner, founder and president of E City Cleveland, a nonprofit group aimed at teaching business skills to inner-city teens. “It's orderly, it's disciplined, it's calm, it's focused.”

The school has about 240 mainly black students with a small number of white and Hispanic students.

Coon was white and Henderson, the student who said she frequently argued with him, is black, but she said she didn't believe race played a role in the shootings.

The school, opened five years ago, ranks in the middle of the state's ratings for student performance. Its graduation rate is 94 percent, well above the district's rate of 55 percent.

[Layla]

1.) The Shooter is at fault #1. He was old enough to know better. This was pre-meditated so it's not like he didn't have time to think about it.
2.) The Parents of the Shooter are at fault if they never sought help for this crazy child. Now if they sought help, took the necessary percautions and did everything they could possibly do then they were ok.
3.) The system is at fault. Simply because there are tons of crazy people out here in this world. Some who go through life with all kinds of suicidal thoughts and whatever else and whose to say they need treatment if they don't act on it. However, if a child has been through several programs for suicidal thoughts, and whatever other diseases he had, he should have been in a special home or hospital for kids like that and should have been required to take his medications.

But in God's eyes this 14-year old was at fault. And no one else. Stop saying he's young and he didn't know any better. PLEASE! I remember when I was 14 and everything I did I knew exactly what I was doing. I was in freakin 10th grade at 14. Thinking about going to college and prom So you tell me this freakin kid didn't know what he was doing you are crazy.
You can't blame the school. They are not there to raise your children or even give them their medication. They suspended him and did whatever and they had to do. Even if the medical detectors were working, don't you think he could have walked in and started shooting instantly regardless of the medal detectors. Think about it.

[booch]

I think society itself is to balme in these types of situations. The kids today have everything that they "think" they need at their fingertips. Kids don't have the urge to go outside and play. To do things that don't require them to use a computer, television, phone or video game. Also, our parents aren't being real parents. When you look back at the song, "Babies Having Babies", it takes on new meaning. Al ot of parents are too busy with work, or just their own lives to even worry about the kids. Now, the kid has to look to someone, i.e. Marilyn Manson, for guidance in their daily walk. It's not getting any better no time soon.

[MrMedia]

Everybody believe "This could never happen to Me" or "Not in my School" this is the World we live in, we have to step up to protect our children with more security.

[Greatness]

The parents are at fault because many people are not capable of being parents. I observe some of these so-called parents who think beating a child is the correct way to punish for wrong doing. As a result, the child releases the anger into society, which is already dysfunctional. Violence is displayed throughout this world from movies, TV shows, households, schools, community, etc. Where can kids go to seek peace? Many kids are choosing to kill themselves to find peace and end their troubled life.

[Peaches16]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Hi Family, I am so saddened by another situation that could've been avoided. Why is it that if kids know somethings about to pop off-why aren't the adults paying attention? After all, they're the ones who have access to each students file so they are very aware of students social problems, mental health issues. etc. Just like VA tech--the mental health records did not get transferred over. Who is accountable?? I say the school board.

Peaches 16:mad:

[henry8]

I just heard on the program the student has been in and out of the juvenile justice system for many ears. He was only 14 years old.

We must not put our children into the system when they are 6 or 7 years old because we do not wish to be bothered; because we just throw up our hands in frustration and disgust because we can not deal with them.

Even at they very young age of 6, 7 or 8 years when we put our children into the system because of behavior issues we have begun a paper trail that will follow them throughout their entire lives.

Things being what they are in this racist society that denies it is racist we as parents, and community members must do what we must to save our children.

We must stand up for and stand up to our children...we mustprovide guidance and love despite their rebellious response to the discipline!

YouThinkWhat.Com (http://youthinkwhat.com)

[KevLove35]

. . . . will continue to produce young individuals like this .
The availability of guns , the absence of responsible parents -and- the lack of quality teachers in over-crowded schools are failing our children .

The lack of respect these kids / young adults have for one another is atrocious .
When will the parents step in and up-hold their position as Guardians ?

Simply feeding and putting clothes on a childs' back is not enough .

How many parents attend P.T.A. meetings on a regular basis ?

We are far too quick to throw most of the blame on the educators / teachers of the school system ; if the child isn't Loved , Validated , Disciplined -and- taught to Respect themselves and their Elders at HOME , what are we expecting under-paid teachers to do with a Juvenile Delinquent ??? :(

[Drnjbmd]

This 14-year-old child was the subject of a neglect case in 1998; at age 5 he was severely burned over his body; in 2006 he was placed in Juvenile Detention (age 12) after severely beating his mother; on October 8, 2006 he was involved in a fight at school and suspended on October 9th. On October 10, 2007, he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after shooting several other students and teacher at his high school. He was a 14-year old freshman student who had been extremely troubled, neglected with resultant severe mental health problems that had gone untreated.

We only need to look at the Virginia Tech shootings to see what happens when severely mentally ill youngsters do not received treatment. The VA Tech student was quiet but as sick as anyone with a highly contagious deadly infection. The Cleveland shooter was not quiet but as sick as anyone with with a highly contagious infection. If these two young men had been infectious, would we have allowed them to walk the streets? Why do the same with people who are severely mentally ill?

[mstee100100]

The way I see it when the kids cant get a safety nat at home, when they go to school that should be a safety nat for them. Am only 30 so it has not been that long ago to where the teachers would step in and ask you was there a problem at home. when a child would come into school with old and smelley clothes, or with out a coat on the teacher would bring that child in something or make a call!!!!!!!!!!! Well we don't have teachers like that no more because some of the teachers are no older then your child like my son teacher is only 21 am 30 he is 11 now you tell me is she or he more worried about how this child is being mistreated or is he worried about what he/ she is going to wear out on Sat and whom they are going to hook up with later that night. The teachers now adays have they own problems I have been inside my son school and listen to some of the teachers walk by talking about kids and laughing. This is the problem How can a child come to you and open up to you when you seat as a teacher see others kids pick with this child. Keep this in mined this was a baby, and the school should have step up and made some calls or better yet start being there for the child going pass the house to talk to the mother. You just never know what is really going on inside the home. #1 Was this child being touch in the wrong way " Keep this in mine most boys don't and wont talk about this. and if the mother new about this and did not do nothing you would not have much love for your mother also. #2 Was the mother being bet so she could not do much for her kids..... Lets talk about Mike?:mad:

[khadijahpc]

14 yr old was arrested in Plymouth Meeting Pa today for planning a "columbine" at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in Plymouth Meeting Pa. What is happening to our children?????

[KevLove35]

This 14-year-old child was the subject of a neglect case in 1998; at age 5 he was severely burned over his body; in 2006 he was placed in Juvenile Detention (age 12) after severely beating his mother; on October 8, 2006 he was involved in a fight at school and suspended on October 9th. On October 10, 2007, he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after shooting several other students and teacher at his high school. He was a 14-year old freshman student who had been extremely troubled, neglected with resultant severe mental health problems that had gone untreated.

I had to read what you posted twice -and- I still can't believe that this kid didn't receive any counseling -or- the attention he needed . He just slipped through the cracks of this dysfunctional school system we have educating inner-city children .

This was yet another story of a Victim lashing out , because his cries for "HELP" were ignored . :(

[KevLove35]

14 yr old was arrested in Plymouth Meeting Pa today for planning a "columbine" at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in Plymouth Meeting Pa. What is happening to our children?????

. . . . some of our children are following the path that was left for them . We're living through a Violent era . The children are speaking the language of the world leaders -and- this society .

[vlpryor]

I do feel that somewhere along the line, there is a record of this childs psych. history, and before he even entered high school, since he had so many issues this matter could have be checked. Has anyone checked with the guidance counselor. I have a 16 yr. niece, I will ask questions, I will drill her, I think maybe worst than her parents.

Because if anything should go down, it would not be that she did not have parents or family that was not involved in her life.

[emmitt69]

First let me offer my heart felt support and prayers to the families affected by this terrible situation.

I must say that I too fell Asa is a victim as well. As a leader in the field of early childhood educationand there are some Big Ideas we know and embrace about the things that influence a child's grow and development.

• Early experiences start at BIRTH and have life long impact and shape a child’s readiness for school and later life.

• Early life experiences effect brain development—be they good expeiences or bad experiences. And they effect that development for the better or for the worse.

• While cognitive development is important (the ability to process, what many refer to as I.Q.) Social emotional development is equally as important (the ability to regulate your behavior, the ability to control your emotions, know the difference between right and wrong, be a friend, make friends, that sort of thing.
• Parents for the better or for the worse are a child's first and and most important teachers.
• Children live what the learn. When you know more you do more .. and when you know better you do better.

Development --ideally--is fuild and usually one skill builds on another…but many forget that children develop within the context of a family, community and culture…and ALL those things influence the child..for the best and far too often for the worse. Consequently, development is disjointed and looks very different for each child..based on the things they experience.

Human Development is like a 4X100 relay race. You know when you run the 4X100 you put the fastest runner at the beginning and at the end right? And we know that the first runner sets the pace for how the race will go and how hard the next three runners will have to work. Some one fell behind in Asa's first lap...may he rest in peace!

[grenetta b]

:( Originally Posted by Drnjbmd
This 14-year-old child was the subject of a neglect case in 1998; at age 5 he was severely burned over his body; in 2006 he was placed in Juvenile Detention (age 12) after severely beating his mother; on October 8, 2006 he was involved in a fight at school and suspended on October 9th. On October 10, 2007, he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after shooting several other students and teacher at his high school. He was a 14-year old freshman student who had been extremely troubled, neglected with resultant severe mental health problems that had gone untreated.


IF THIS WAS THE CASE FOR THIS CHILD THEN HIS PARENTS SHOULD BE THE BLAME FOR HIS BEHAVIOR. CAUSE THE SIGNS WERE THERE IN THE BEGINNING.
YOU REALLY CAN'T BLAME THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THIS ONE . CAUSE THE COURT SYSTEM KNEW ABOUT THIS CHILDS PAST ABUSE SINCE HE WAS 5YRS OLD. CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, AND THE COURTS SHOULD BE AT FAULT FOR THIS ONE . CAUSE FROM READING HIS HISTORY THIS CHILD SHOULD HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE THERAPY.


BUT THEN AGAIN HIS SCHOOL COUNSELOR ALSO SHOULD HAVE DETECTED HIS BEHAVIOR. AND REACHED OUT TO THE PARENTS IN ADVANCE TO MAKE THEM GET THIS YOUNG MAN SOME HELP.


PARENTS HAVE TO STEP-UP AND NOTICE THEIR CHILDREN. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY LASH OUT ANGER AT THEM. CAUSE THERE JUST MIGHT BE SOME HIDDEN HURT THAT NEED TO BE REVEILED THAT COULD SAFE YOUR CHILDS LIFE.:(

MY PRAYER GO OUT TO ALL THE VICTIMS OF THIS TRAGEDY.

[JukeboxJones]

Everyone is too blame, Parents, Teachers, Guidance Counselors, Children. He needed more help, he needed more guidance. It was obvious, he was troubled, he should have been helped years ago. We have another young life loss, when is it going to stop.

We need to have more Town Hall Meetings, We need to talk with our children and we need to let our children talk. They are keeping too many things from us. When we find out the problems then we can solve them. We need to stop the blame game and talk with our children so nobody won't be blamed.

[cass0130]

Its always sad when you hear of an incident like this. Even though this particular child was a victim for most of 14 years...the first thing we need to do is stop looking to place blame on who's fault it was. As a society and a community, it is all of our fault as it is our responsibility. if you see a child beoing mis-treated, you should speak up. Sometimes parents & educator, whoever...are not too blame for th actions of a child. But maybe we need to take action also. Step up, when you see a child in need; Speak up and Speak out...what was the saying" Each one, reach one..It makes a difference.

[KevLove35]

IF THIS WAS THE CASE FOR THIS CHILD THEN HIS PARENTS SHOULD BE THE BLAME FOR HIS BEHAVIOR. CAUSE THE SIGNS WERE THERE IN THE BEGINNING.
YOU REALLY CAN'T BLAME THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THIS ONE . CAUSE THE COURT SYSTEM KNEW ABOUT THIS CHILDS PAST ABUSE SINCE HE WAS 5YRS OLD. CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, AND THE COURTS SHOULD BE AT FAULT FOR THIS ONE . CAUSE FROM READING HIS HISTORY THIS CHILD SHOULD HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE THERAPY.


BUT THEN AGAIN HIS SCHOOL COUNSELOR ALSO SHOULD HAVE DETECTED HIS BEHAVIOR. AND REACHED OUT TO THE PARENTS IN ADVANCE TO MAKE THEM GET THIS YOUNG MAN SOME HELP.


PARENTS HAVE TO STEP-UP AND NOTICE THEIR CHILDREN. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY LASH OUT ANGER AT THEM. CAUSE THERE JUST MIGHT BE SOME HIDDEN HURT THAT NEED TO BE REVEILED THAT COULD SAFE YOUR CHILDS LIFE.:(

Very good post , grenetta b . :cool:

[barefootgoddess9]

I would like to take this time to talk about bullies. They should not exist. Parents please talk to your children and let them know it's not ok to tease other children ever.

[mmarie19]

This whole incident is a tragedy. Today we live in a society filled with violence. From TV, radio, in home violence.etc.. But like many of the viewers have asked who do we hold responsible when something like this happens? The violence among our young people today is not a black or white issue. There was a caller who made a comment that this kid was a skin head and the whole goth scenario played a big part in this shooting. I have to disagree. Is it right that kids or for that matter, young African American men are sterotyped by the whole hip hop scene. No! Two wrongs do not make a right. Far too many of our children are falling victim to violence and suicide. Black, white, latino, asian etc.. The commanality is our children. And we as parents,educators and peers need to have respect for one another. For the mother who stated that this kid was a skin head, are you not teaching one to be judgemental based on appearance. We need to address the issues and so clled "norms" society places on us. By focusing on this kids appearance takes away from the real issue that this kid needed help. And also the focus of his appearance leaves the door open for violence toward others who may choose to dress this way,who may not have mental problems. As we all know trends come and go. Bell bottoms to saggy pants, big hair to sleek hair or what ever ones fad may have been back in the day. So lets ask ourselves did this change us as individuals? I believe many of us will say no. Emotional problems and are cries for help are based on a individual basis and personal life experiences. As we know mental health, violence, health, etc bare no color. But the love, compassion, tolerance, and respect for our children speaks in volumes.
Much love from Detroit.

[uncdec01]

I think this is a sad sad incident, my heart aches and my prayers go out to all of the families involved.

My question is how can there be a school shooting and I have not heard anything about it until logging on to this site?

[PatDickerson]

I am very sad that a youth of 14 years old would be so despondent that he would take his own life. A alternative school is suppose to have in place different strategies to meet the population! Somewhere along the line something failed-result- TRAGEDY-. I thought back to what was I doing at the age of 14? I was on a rock with my girlfriends singing a Supremes song. Whose to blame? I could cite a lot of people which would serve no constructed result. There is a saying "IT TAKES A VILLIAGE TO RAISE A CHILD". If WE meaning EVERYONE would take this approach, the world, OUR world would be a better place. My heart goes out to all affected by this tragedy. I wish them God's Peace.

[debra j]

[/COLOR]This 14-year-old child was the subject of a neglect case in 1998; at age 5 he was severely burned over his body; in 2006 he was placed in Juvenile Detention (age 12) after severely beating his mother; on October 8, 2006 he was involved in a fight at school and suspended on October 9th. On October 10, 2007, he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after shooting several other students and teacher at his high school. He was a 14-year old freshman student who had been extremely troubled, neglected with resultant severe mental health problems that had gone untreated.

We only need to look at the Virginia Tech shootings to see what happens when severely mentally ill youngsters do not received treatment. The VA Tech student was quiet but as sick as anyone with a highly contagious deadly infection. The Cleveland shooter was not quiet but as sick as anyone with with a highly contagious infection. If these two young men had been infectious, would we have allowed them to walk the streets? Why do the same with people who are severely mentally ill?

I agree and I understand what you are saying . I have been doing my best to get help for my son . He was molested at his school and nothing is being done . He is not in counseling and the teachers who let this happened still have their jobs. I just don't understand how an adult can know that a student is being hurt and do nothing. And when it gets to a point that a child has been badly hurt you still want speak up.You would sacrifices a childs safety over a job . I don't care how much money is being made , I will not be quiet when I know a child is been hurt. still:mad:
http://www.americaiswatching.org

[filmoredollar]

This 14-year-old child was the subject of a neglect case in 1998; at age 5 he was severely burned over his body; in 2006 he was placed in Juvenile Detention (age 12) after severely beating his mother; on October 8, 2006 he was involved in a fight at school and suspended on October 9th. On October 10, 2007, he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after shooting several other students and teacher at his high school. He was a 14-year old freshman student who had been extremely troubled, neglected with resultant severe mental health problems that had gone untreated.

We only need to look at the Virginia Tech shootings to see what happens when severely mentally ill youngsters do not received treatment. The VA Tech student was quiet but as sick as anyone with a highly contagious deadly infection. The Cleveland shooter was not quiet but as sick as anyone with with a highly contagious infection. If these two young men had been infectious, would we have allowed them to walk the streets? Why do the same with people who are severely mentally ill?

I do feel bad for this kid. The fact is that we as parents are raising bullys. That kid was treated like nothing his whole short, miserable life. This kid was dead long before yesterday, trust me.

I feel no syspathy for the VA Tech shooter. The Clevelant shooter was victimized, the VA shooter however was living in his own world all together seperate from the real one, where everybody was against him. Instead of trying to be social this idiot sat in his room murderously envious of those who had what he did not. As if he was the only one on earth without wealth and popularity. The VA shooter wasn't crazy, he was an angry, pathetic, coward.

[elevatedmind]

whose to blame?

Everyone...especially those who believe that 14 year olds are TRULY capable of understanding the consequences of their actions BEFORE they actually ACT out what is on their minds.

A lot of adults haven't even been able to capture this skill moreover to expect a 14 year old to do it...

those who think this are living in a bubble of bubble gum!

[penellapea5]

:mad: this has gone to far with shooting and this races or culter anmd us blacks got to put a stop to befor it get to late

[filmoredollar]

Don't let the word "Alternative" confuse you. Most school regarless of weather they are public, private, religious, alternative are just as bad when it comes to the the teachers truly knowing these children. Also teachers and administrators are not steping in when children do have problems be it at home, with the teacher, or other students until it's too late. I do not think that this kid taking his life could be prevented. The fact is that he would have done it sooner or later. But the school could have prevented this kid from trying to take others with him.

[debra j]

whose to blame?

Everyone...especially those who believe that 14 year olds are TRULY capable of understanding the consequences of their actions BEFORE they actually ACT out what is on their minds.

A lot of adults haven't even been able to capture this skill moreover to expect a 14 year old to do it...

those who think this are living in a bubble of bubble gum!

children are being hurt and abused and nothing is being done about it . This is a very lonely feeling when you hurt and nothing is being done to keep you safe . My family is dealing with my son's molestation and all of my family and friends have left me to deal with this on my own.Just a few words of support would help the day go by a little better http://www.americaiswatching.org under georgia school abuse

[saleemjurnee]

. . . . some of our children are following the path that was left for them . We're living through a Violent era . The children are speaking the language of the world leaders -and- this society .
wow.... i feel you on that....

[zion]

A judge ordered a black teenager back to jail, deciding the fight that put him in the national spotlight violated terms of his probation for a previous conviction, his attorney said.

Mychal Bell, who along with five other black teenagers in the so-called Jena Six case is accused of beating a white classmate, had gone to juvenile court in Jena on Thursday expecting another routine hearing, said Carol Powell Lexing, one of his attorneys.

Instead, state District Judge J.P. Mauffrey Jr. sentenced Bell to 18 months in jail on two counts of simple battery and two counts of criminal destruction of property, Lexing said.

"We are definitely going to appeal this," she said. "We'll continue to fight."

Bell had been hit with those charges before the Dec. 4 attack on classmate Justin Barker. Details on the previous charges, which were handled in juvenile court, were unclear.

Mauffrey, reached at his home Thursday night, had no comment.

"He's locked up again," Marcus Jones said of his 17-year-old son. "No bail has been set or nothing. He's a young man who's been thrown in jail again and again, and he just has to take it."

After the attack on Barker, Bell was originally charged with attempted murder, but the charges were reduced and he was convicted of battery. An appeals court threw that conviction out, saying Bell should not have been tried as an adult on that charge.

Racial tensions began rising in August 2006 in Jena after a black student sat under a tree known as a gathering spot for white students. Three white students later hung nooses from the tree. They were suspended but not prosecuted.

More than 20,000 demonstrators gathered last month in the small central Louisiana town to protest what they perceive as differences in how black and white suspects are treated. The case has drawn the attention of civil rights activists including the Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

Sharpton reacted swiftly upon learning Bell was back in jail Thursday.

"We feel this was a cruel and unusual punishment and is a revenge by this judge for the Jena Six movement," said Sharpton, who helped organize the protest held Sept. 20, the day Bell was originally supposed to be sentenced.

Bell's parents were also ordered to pay all court costs and witness costs, Sharpton said.

"I don't know what we're going to do," Jones said. "I don't know how we're going to pay for any of this. I don't know how we're going to get through this."

Bell and the other five defendants have been charged in the attack on Barker, which left him unconscious and bleeding with facial injuries. According to court testimony, he was repeatedly kicked by a group of students at the high school.

Barker was treated for three hours at an emergency room but was able to attend a school function that evening, authorities have said.

Bell, Robert Bailey Jr., Carwin Jones, Bryant Purvis and Theo Shaw were all initially charged — as adults — with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit the same. A sixth defendant was charged in the case as a juvenile.

Bell, who was 16 at the time, was convicted in June of aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit that crime. LaSalle Parish prosecutor Reed Walters reduced the charges just before the trial. Since then, both of those convictions were dismissed and tossed back to juvenile court, where they now are being tried.

Charges against Bailey, 18, Jones, 19, and Shaw, 18, have been reduced to aggravated second-degree battery. Purvis, 18, has not yet been arraigned.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071012/ap_on_re_us/jena_six

[deadeyes]

So that maybe in this case we will be able to look at the real problems facing Americans instead of trying to make it fit into a racial conspiracy theory. This is the second thread on this forum involving a mentally ill child who lost his life this week. The first thread didn't stay up long but it was about a boy who got shot while attempting to attack a police officer with a clothes iron. Both of these boys should have been hospitalized, but I'm sure the families couldn't afford to have them institutionalized and they hadn't done anything bad enough to merit imprisonment...yet.

This is going to have to be a series of post to spread the blame evenly, but I'll start with the obvious mental health problem. In spite of what your favorite political figures try to tell you this country doesn't have a "health care crisis". The nation does not suffer from insufficient health care or medical/psychological treatment; we have the best system in the world bar none. The problem is that the "less fortunate" have an "access crisis". Some would say it amounts to the same thing but they'd be wrong. A health care crisis means that there isn’t anywhere for anyone to get proper treatment (see; Socialized Medicine). An “access crisis”, on the other hand, means that there is good care available and you can have it but you just can’t afford it. The question we need to answer is; how it can be made affordable? Of course, those closest to the guilty party (D) will be the first to attempt to propose a new band-aid remedy. In this case Hillary and/or Barrack will undoubtedly propose/highlight a mental health component to their respective national socialist healthcare plans in the next day or two. Ironically, government, insurance and lawyers are what have caused the current "access crisis".

An examination of the modern history of healthcare clearly shows that before people turned over the personal responsibility (I'll deal with personal responsibility next) for their health to either the government (Medicare/Medicaid) or a private health insurance company, medical care costs were a fraction of what they are today. John Edwards (check out his background previous to being a politician) is a prime example of what has done the most damage to the system.

With Blacks making up a disproportionate percentage of those affected by the "access crisis" it behooves us to search out the best ideas to fix the problems and then elect representatives who share those ideas. Tort reform, trimming the FDA approval processes and repeal of mandatory insurance laws for employers are some of the steps we should be taking. A quick look at the socialist systems around the world will prove that allowing a government bureaucracy to administer health care is not the answer. That is, it should, if you don't get all of your health care advice from Michael Moore.

Ken Blackwell writes on SCHIP: http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/KenBlackwell/2007/10/11/schip_the_mad_hatter_matter

[Debbie in Virginia Beach]

Help me out here. I am a bit confused. What is the status of the other Jena 6 teens? I keep hearing about Michael and no one else, he seems to be the focus?

Thanks

[Paul D THERIPY]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/12/bootcamp.death.ap/index.html

[sr.recruiter]

What we can do? What resources are out there? Why don't you join and partner with Warren Balentine and get a legal perspective. He is asking that all people of color not to buy anything!!!! November 2nd. We need to hit them in the pockets because money gets their attention. LET'S SHOW THEM WE MEAN BUSINESS

[babyface_BR]

You this saddens me so to hear another about another school shooting. The kid who did the shooting is at fault, the parents are at fault, the system for letting this go on w/out getting this kid the help he needed, and the school is at fault for not listening to the kids who told them what this kid was going to do and for not having backup security at the school.

But what also gets me is the cop out these kids give as a reason: I have no friends, or they talked about me or bullied me. Just what are you doing to change the situation other than picking up a gun?

[Eyeswideopen]

Like Warren Ballatine said, if this shooter was Black and listening to rap music instead of rock or punk music..would we be saying, he came from a bad family...No we would have been saying throw him in jail....This kid came to school with a gun and shot and wound several people...Why did he go to mall or the supermarket...why didn't he wait until after school? He was disturb white kid that wanted to kill black people....Today courses in most highschool/colleges now KillBlackpeople 101, Racism 201, Iamabovetherest 302, and finally Givemethatwhiterobe 303, and Grad. courses: DAReed404, Judge405...now I am prepare to become a real American.....or democracy..kkk:mad:

[uncdec01]

Like Warren Ballatine said, if this shooter was Black and listening to rap music instead of rock or punk music..would we be saying, he came from a bad family...No we would have been saying throw him in jail....This kid came to school with a gun and shot and wound several people...Why did he go to mall or the supermarket...why didn't he wait until after school? He was disturb white kid that wanted to kill black people....Today courses in most highschool/colleges now KillBlackpeople 101, Racism 201, Iamabovetherest 302, and finally Givemethatwhiterobe 303, and Grad. courses: DAReed404, Judge405...now I am prepare to become a real American.....or democracy..kkk:mad:

It is crazy how we have all these case of blatant racism. All the other school shootings received huge amounts of coverage. I have talked to many people who do not even know about it.
Did anyone notice how calm and collected our children were when they discussed the shooting and the tapes during the shooting. You did not see the usual hysteria crying and falling apart. I think this speaks volumes.

[debra j]

1.) The Shooter is at fault #1. He was old enough to know better. This was pre-meditated so it's not like he didn't have time to think about it.
2.) The Parents of the Shooter are at fault if they never sought help for this crazy child. Now if they sought help, took the necessary percautions and did everything they could possibly do then they were ok.
3.) The system is at fault. Simply because there are tons of crazy people out here in this world. Some who go through life with all kinds of suicidal thoughts and whatever else and whose to say they need treatment if they don't act on it. However, if a child has been through several programs for suicidal thoughts, and whatever other diseases he had, he should have been in a special home or hospital for kids like that and should have been required to take his medications.

But in God's eyes this 14-year old was at fault. And no one else. Stop saying he's young and he didn't know any better. PLEASE! I remember when I was 14 and everything I did I knew exactly what I was doing. I was in freakin 10th grade at 14. Thinking about going to college and prom So you tell me this freakin kid didn't know what he was doing you are crazy.
You can't blame the school. They are not there to raise your children or even give them their medication. They suspended him and did whatever and they had to do. Even if the medical detectors were working, don't you think he could have walked in and started shooting instantly regardless of the medal detectors. Think about it.

You are some what right , but the school system is responsible for our children's safety as well as the parents. So many children are hurting from many different things . Some do seek help and are never helped until it's to late . My son has been raped in school no one told me for two weeks and no one reported this to the authorites. The student who did this , I don't want to have him arrested because someone has hurt him . The school teachers knew this student was doing this to others , and did nothing. his parents knew and did nothing to teach him that this was wrong , and what happened to him was not his fault and should never happened. So what do you do when you seek help and no one respnse are when you tell and its ignored.This is somewhat his fault but this is mostly the parents and the school system. I don't know if you have ever been in a place where your pain is so deep you can't see anything getting better . And with that you are alone in your pain. sometimes all people can see is suicide as away out. Don't get me wrong I am sad for the the other families also , but you have to understand this kind of empty , hopeless feeling .