OH - Five injured in SuccessTech Academy shooting, Cleveland, 10 Oct 2007

[Taximom]

Per school superint:
ALL CMSD schools closed tomorrow. (Friday was already a day off.) WOW. Faculty, staff and parents need a breather. Will be meeting Friday about what needs to be done to prepare for school Monday. Professionals available tomorrow to all students that need assistance.

Questions from reporters:
How did he get past security? Still investigating that. Student was not scheduled to be in the bldg today. Coroner still on scene. Suspect shot himself prior to arrival of police, but still investigating. Teachers and police assisted students out of bldg.

Most answers are "we are still investigating"...

 

[Taximom]

Everyone here knows that this was bound to happen soon. The parents, the PTO's...we talk about it all the time. And nobody ever wants to do anything about it until something like this happens. Granted, there are areas where this probably wouldn't happen, like ours, but there are many areas that it will happen if they don't make some changes.

It's fortunate that the only person dead is the suspect. I'm sorry that he was obviously a 14 yr old troubled soul, but if it helps to keep this from happening in the future...then maybe it's worth it. I do have faith in this superintendent though. In one year he made sweeping changes that have already helped. I guess school safety will be at the top of his list now.

Even though this suspect tried to kill others (and hopefully isn't successful), what went wrong in his life?

Hold your own close tonight.

 

[cheko1]

I can't imagine a 14 yr old whose life is so bad that he has to go on a shooting spree to try killing others. I know many kids have a bad life, don't get me wrong ....

To take it out on everyone else is just insane. I've stated before they honestly need to do something FAST! Now the copycats will start....

 

[MsPooh]

gosh this just makes me so sad, my dd is 14 and I just do not believe at that age that they really understand the full ramifications of what they are doing...I pray for all involved. Sad to say we had one of the first school shootings here, Luke Woodham...that boy knew exactly what he was doing..but he was 16.

 

[Taximom]

Per reporters:
Asa Coon (sp?) had a long juvy record and hung with a neighborhood gang. Neighbors described him as odd and hyperactive. Police just at his house last night. His older brother, Steven, arrested last night for shooting at his girlfriend. Neighbor also said he wished someone had helped Asa out.

Stephen Coon has a record of burglary, weapons, assault, drugs and he's only 19 yrs old.

Sounds like a wonderful family.

 

[Taximom]

This is his older brother's myspace:
(deleted for now till I know for sure)

Sheesh.

 

[dkitty]

This is his older brother's myspace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=25157527

Sheesh.

Strange.

 

[Bee Happy]

This is crazy. I have to meet with a principal tomorrow at a Cleveland Charter school for a job I'm thinking about taking.

 

[Taximom]

rox ann, I don't know if that principal will be there since schools will be closed....

 

[AmandaBrown23]

I feel sorry for everyone involved, his parents must be so devastated.

 

[Bee Happy]

rox ann, I don't know if that principal will be there since schools will be closed....

Yea, I just saw that. Thanks.

 

[close_enough]

Strange.

yes, very.....i'd say this is Asa's 19 yr old brother....his mood is "shocked"......

i'm glad those that were injured are doing ok ....(sighs)

 

[lauriej]

..very sad indeed.......


http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/10/cleveland.shooting/index.html


The academy describes itself on its Web site as a "small, nontraditional high school that provides a learning environment in which all student believe in their ability to succeed."
It adds that the curriculum is "problem-based" and "infused" with technology.

​

The school was founded in part with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
SuccessTech does not have metal detectors, according to McGrath.

 

[Taximom]

All reports I'm hearing tonight say that Asa came from an abusive background. At the age of 5 yrs, a teacher called CPS because he had cigarette burns on him. Not making excuses, just reporting what I've heard.

 

[Mygirlsadie]

You know somehow this really don't surprise me at all...

All reports I'm hearing tonight say that Asa came from an abusive background. At the age of 5 yrs, a teacher called CPS because he had cigarette burns on him. Not making excuses, just reporting what I've heard.

 

[Taximom]

You know somehow this really don't surprise me at all...

Me either. This is another one of those cases where a lot of people seemed to know something bad was going to happen with this kid for many years.....

I want to know if the police looked for and/or took other guns from that home when his older brother was arrested for shooting at his girlfriend on Tuesday night. Where did Asa get these guns?

 

[Mygirlsadie]

Hmm I wonder that too.. do people just have guns lying around their house at their childrens disposal? If CPS was already involved due to cigarette burns on the child why was he ever let back in the home? I know a lady also who lives in Cleveland and she was/is abusing her stepson. CPS was called and they were able to cover their tracks concerning the abuse. The little boy then complained to teachers about his home life..again CPS was called..again they covered their tracks. The boy is still in the home everytime I hear about something happening in Cleveland I always look for the name because I think it's just a matter of time before I see the name I recognize.

Me either. This is another one of those cases where a lot of people seemed to know something bad was going to happen with this kid for many years.....

I want to know if the police looked for and/or took other guns from that home when his older brother was arrested for shooting at his girlfriend on Tuesday night. Where did Asa get these guns?

 

[Taximom]

Hmm I wonder that too.. do people just have guns lying around their house at their childrens disposal? If CPS was already involved due to cigarette burns on the child why was he ever let back in the home? I know a lady also who lives in Cleveland and she was/is abusing her stepson. CPS was called and they were able to cover their tracks concerning the abuse. The little boy then complained to teachers about his home life..again CPS was called..again they covered their tracks. The boy is still in the home everytime I hear about something happening in Cleveland I always look for the name because I think it's just a matter of time before I see the name I recognize.

Aww, this makes me so sad. Give me the address and I'll go rescue him. Boy, I wish I could really do that.

 

[Mygirlsadie]

Oh wouldnt that be awesome! Believe me I would give you their names place of employment everything I know about them if I thought it would make a difference for him.. One thing I can tell you right now is that they just moved to a town called North Royalton?..Don't know how far that is from Cleveland but someone told me that once the boy starts school there if he complains there that they will probably do something about it that they are 'better' then Cleveland in that aspect...we will see I guess.

Aww, this makes me so sad. Give me the address and I'll go rescue him. Boy, I wish I could really do that.

 

[Taximom]

Oh wouldnt that be awesome! Believe me I would give you their names place of employment everything I know about them if I thought it would make a difference for him.. One thing I can tell you right now is that they just moved to a town called North Royalton?..Don't know how far that is from Cleveland but someone told me that once the boy starts school there if he complains there that they will probably do something about it that they are 'better' then Cleveland in that aspect...we will see I guess.

If there's ever anything I can do (legally!), please let me know. I can't stand the thought of little children being abused.

Anyway, NR is a very nice suburb about 5-10 miles south of Cleveland. My inlaws live there. It's still in the same county as Cleveland, but maybe the schools stay on top of things like this better? I don't know, but I hope this works out for him.