Tags: print
April 24, 2003
School shooting occurs in Pennsylvania
A 14-year old student at Red Lion Area Junior High School in Red Lion, Pennsylvania shot and killed the Principal and then shot himself in the head, according to CNN.
The shooting occurred on April 24 at around 7:30. The alleged shooter, James Sheets did not seem to have any motive. After shooting the principal, the student shot himself in front of students in the cafeteria. The student was armed with several handguns that belonged to his stepfather but did not injure anyone else.
"Everyone ran out of the cafeteria yelling 'He has a gun,"' said eighth-grader Danny Dulin, as reported by the Associated Press.
Students who knew Sheets said that he was quiet, a member of the football team who liked to skateboard and play basketball. Police cannot make out a motive for the shootings. “We don’t know why today. And we don’t know why, period," said Red Lion Borough Police Chief Walt Hughes.
Angelia and Arthur Baker, Sheets parents, did not see any warning signs and Sheets did not have any school problems or any legal problems. Hughes elaborated on Sheets motives. "I think it's safe to say that something was building inside of him that he couldn't control."
Danica Shirey had a locker next to Sheets and said that he never got into trouble and liked everyone. “He never had a problem with anyone," she said.
The principal, Eugene Segro was pronounced dead after he was taken to York Hospital; Red Lion is mourning his death. "The school district is grieving the loss of our beloved junior high school principal, Dr. Segro and the student involved," said Larry Macaluso, Red Lion Area superintendent.
The same school district was victim to a machete attack that injured 11 kindergarteners in February 2001. Red Lion is about 30 miles southeast from Harrisburg, PA.
The shooting occurred on April 24 at around 7:30. The alleged shooter, James Sheets did not seem to have any motive. After shooting the principal, the student shot himself in front of students in the cafeteria. The student was armed with several handguns that belonged to his stepfather but did not injure anyone else.
"Everyone ran out of the cafeteria yelling 'He has a gun,"' said eighth-grader Danny Dulin, as reported by the Associated Press.
Students who knew Sheets said that he was quiet, a member of the football team who liked to skateboard and play basketball. Police cannot make out a motive for the shootings. “We don’t know why today. And we don’t know why, period," said Red Lion Borough Police Chief Walt Hughes.
Angelia and Arthur Baker, Sheets parents, did not see any warning signs and Sheets did not have any school problems or any legal problems. Hughes elaborated on Sheets motives. "I think it's safe to say that something was building inside of him that he couldn't control."
Danica Shirey had a locker next to Sheets and said that he never got into trouble and liked everyone. “He never had a problem with anyone," she said.
The principal, Eugene Segro was pronounced dead after he was taken to York Hospital; Red Lion is mourning his death. "The school district is grieving the loss of our beloved junior high school principal, Dr. Segro and the student involved," said Larry Macaluso, Red Lion Area superintendent.
The same school district was victim to a machete attack that injured 11 kindergarteners in February 2001. Red Lion is about 30 miles southeast from Harrisburg, PA.
Discuss this Article
it struck us all as a big surprise, no one could believe it was true. The principle everyone loved and respected, shot... not in Red Lion...
The whole town was struck by the news, it may take months to get back to "normal" but dr/ segro will always be in our hearts, as a great mentor and a great person.
with deepest love, Nikitalee