In downtown Cleveland, Ohio, a disturbed, trench coat-wearing 14-year old boy named Asa Coon opened fire using two handguns in the hallway of the school, in revenge for being suspended. He’d arrived to school on a public bus in early afternoon, with bloodshed on his mind, and targeted those that he felt were responsible for his being disciplined. Hearing the gunshots, everyone was warned by the principal on the public address system at the school. Teachers and students hid and ran for cover as they tried to avoid the violent teen. Success Tech Academy was evacuated, as the shooter shot two male teachers and two students on the fourth floor of the building.
The small, east-side high school had no security guard on duty, as two had been recently laid off and the remaining guard is currently on vacation. Somehow, the 9th grade brought two guns into the school without being noticed. Earlier in the week he had been suspended for being in a fight previously in the week, on Monday, and was beaten up. A teenaged witness was interviewed, saying that he had seen that fight, and was concerned because he thought the boy was violent and threatening. He witnessed the first few gunshots, and the stampede of students running away from them, and down the stairs. They all ran out the door, and away from the situation to get to safety.
Students of Success Tech Academy are offered an achievement-oriented, technology based academic curriculum. This school has been popular in the Cleveland School District for being forward thinking and giving structure to inner city kids so they can use the latest computer technology for a variety of future careers. Funding for the school was partially due to a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Each student is picked for admission, and learns computer usage in depth. The school is located in downtown Cleveland at 1440 Lakeside Avenue and East 14th Street, mere blocks away from Public Square.
The injured include two male teachers, aged 42 and 57 years old, and two students, two boys, ages 14 and 17 years old. The teachers sustained more serious injuries than the students, one was later released. A third student, a 14-year old girl, hurt her knee when she fell, as she fled from the situation. It is reported that those injured didn’t sustain life-threatening injuries . Counseling with psychologists and therapists was offered for students that wanted it. The shooter, who had a previous criminal history and adorned himself with painted fingernails and Goth-styled makeup, shot himself in the mouth after the rampage.
Students and faculty are shaken, but feel fortunate that the incident is now over. Now the healing begins. School authorities are working to figure out better safety measures for local district schools. Cleveland is a very progressive city, full of culture and life. This unfortunate incident won’t hold it back, if anything it only makes it more determined to make improvements and move forward with increasing momentum.