Advertisement

Accused shooter's dad had violent history

CHARDON, Ohio, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The father of an Ohio teenager charged with shooting five students at a high school spent time in prison for assaulting one of his wives, court records show.

Thomas Lane Jr. was convicted of holding his wife's head under running water and pushing her against a wall, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported. The victim, who had divorced Lane, later wrote authorities asking for his early release and describing him as a good father.

Advertisement

Lane's son, T.J., 17, allegedly opened fire Monday in the cafeteria at Chardon High School. One student was killed immediately and two more died in the hospital.

Thomas Lane had a history of arrests, The Plain Dealer said. He and T.J.'s mother, Sara Nolan, at one point charged each other with assault.

Young people who knew him through church said T.J. lived with his grandparents. They said his family life was chaotic with a number of step- and half-siblings.

T.J. was a student at Lake Academy, an alternative high school. On his Facebook page, in the space for high school, he listed a line from Pink Floyd, "We don't need no thought control."

Advertisement

Latest Headlines