School shooter wears 'killer' shirt to sentencing
CHARDON, Ohio (AP) - Wearing a T-shirt with "killer" scrawled across it, a teenager cursed and gestured obscenely as he was given three life sentences Tuesday for shooting to death three students in an Ohio high school cafeteria.
T.J. Lane, 18, had pleaded guilty last month to shooting at students in February 2012 at Chardon High School, east of Cleveland. Investigators have said he admitted to the shooting but said he didn't know why he did it.
Before the case went to adult court last year, a juvenile court judge ruled that Lane was mentally competent to stand trial despite evidence he suffers from hallucinations, psychosis and fantasies.
Lane was defiant during the sentencing, smiling and smirking throughout, including while four relatives of victims spoke.
After he came in, he calmly unbuttoned his blue dress shirt to reveal the T-shirt reading "killer," which the prosecutor noted was similar to one he wore during the shooting.
At one point, he swiveled around in his chair toward the gallery where his own family members and those of the slain teenagers were sitting and spoke suddenly, surprising even his lawyer.
"The hand that pulled the trigger that killed your sons now masturbates to the memory," he said, then cursed at and raised his middle finger toward the victims' relatives.
WARNING: Graphic Content
A student who was wounded in the rampage dismissed the outburst.
"He said it like a scared little boy and couldn't talk slow enough that anyone could understand him," said Nate Mueller, who was nicked in the ear in the shooting.
Dina Parmertor, mother of victim Daniel, called Lane "a pathetic excuse for a human being" and wished upon him "an extremely, slow torturous death." She said she has nightmares and her family has been physically sick over the crimes.
"From now on, he will only be a killer," she said, as Lane's smile widened. "I want him to feel my anger toward him."
Prosecutors say Lane took a .22-caliber pistol and a knife to the school and fired 10 shots at a group of students in the cafeteria. Daniel Parmertor and Demetrius Hewlin, both 16, and Russell King Jr., 17, were killed.
Lane was at Chardon waiting for a bus to the alternative school he attended, for students who haven't done well in traditional settings.
Six days before the rampage, Lane had sent a text message to his sister, who attended Chardon High school, and mentioned a school shooting, Geauga County Prosecutor James Flaiz disclosed after the sentencing. He gave no details about what the message said.
"The way the text message was phrased to his sister, I'm not sure she would have taken it as anything. I think only when you look at it in retrospect does it really have the impact that it does now," Flaiz said.
Lane's sister, Sadie, was in the cafeteria the day of the shooting, and said outside the snow-swept courthouse that the brother she saw in court wasn't the one she remembers. She asked for prayers for her family.
"It may be hard for some to understand, but I love my brother and hope that whatever the sentencing in life takes him in the future, that he can touch others' lives in a positive way from the point of view that only he can give," she said.
She spoke and left the courthouse before Flaiz addressed reporters.
Flaiz said he has a theory about the motive but wouldn't discuss it until he has a chance to meet with the families of victims and answer their questions.
Lane's courtroom behavior came as a surprise, he added.
" I am totally disgusted by that," Flaiz said. "What he did today is consistent with what we thought of him all along."
One of Lane's defense attorneys, Ian Friedman, also said he was caught off-guard by the comments. The defense had signaled earlier that Lane wouldn't speak in court and didn't want anyone to speak for him.
Lane had pleaded guilty last month to three counts of aggravated murder, two counts of attempted aggravated murder and one count of felonious assault.
Life imprisonment without parole was the maximum sentence Lane faced. He wasn't eligible for the death penalty because he was 17 at the time of the shootings. Relatives of the slain students indicated earlier they wanted Lane to get the maximum sentence.
In addition to three life sentences without chance of parole, Geauga County Common Pleas Judge David Fuhry also gave Lane sentences totaling 37 additional years for attempted murder and felonious assault and using a weapon in the crimes.
T.J. Lane, 18, had pleaded guilty last month to shooting at students in February 2012 at Chardon High School, east of Cleveland. Investigators have said he admitted to the shooting but said he didn't know why he did it.
Before the case went to adult court last year, a juvenile court judge ruled that Lane was mentally competent to stand trial despite evidence he suffers from hallucinations, psychosis and fantasies.
Lane was defiant during the sentencing, smiling and smirking throughout, including while four relatives of victims spoke.
After he came in, he calmly unbuttoned his blue dress shirt to reveal the T-shirt reading "killer," which the prosecutor noted was similar to one he wore during the shooting.
At one point, he swiveled around in his chair toward the gallery where his own family members and those of the slain teenagers were sitting and spoke suddenly, surprising even his lawyer.
"The hand that pulled the trigger that killed your sons now masturbates to the memory," he said, then cursed at and raised his middle finger toward the victims' relatives.
WARNING: Graphic Content
A student who was wounded in the rampage dismissed the outburst.
"He said it like a scared little boy and couldn't talk slow enough that anyone could understand him," said Nate Mueller, who was nicked in the ear in the shooting.
Dina Parmertor, mother of victim Daniel, called Lane "a pathetic excuse for a human being" and wished upon him "an extremely, slow torturous death." She said she has nightmares and her family has been physically sick over the crimes.
"From now on, he will only be a killer," she said, as Lane's smile widened. "I want him to feel my anger toward him."
Prosecutors say Lane took a .22-caliber pistol and a knife to the school and fired 10 shots at a group of students in the cafeteria. Daniel Parmertor and Demetrius Hewlin, both 16, and Russell King Jr., 17, were killed.
Lane was at Chardon waiting for a bus to the alternative school he attended, for students who haven't done well in traditional settings.
Six days before the rampage, Lane had sent a text message to his sister, who attended Chardon High school, and mentioned a school shooting, Geauga County Prosecutor James Flaiz disclosed after the sentencing. He gave no details about what the message said.
"The way the text message was phrased to his sister, I'm not sure she would have taken it as anything. I think only when you look at it in retrospect does it really have the impact that it does now," Flaiz said.
Lane's sister, Sadie, was in the cafeteria the day of the shooting, and said outside the snow-swept courthouse that the brother she saw in court wasn't the one she remembers. She asked for prayers for her family.
"It may be hard for some to understand, but I love my brother and hope that whatever the sentencing in life takes him in the future, that he can touch others' lives in a positive way from the point of view that only he can give," she said.
She spoke and left the courthouse before Flaiz addressed reporters.
Flaiz said he has a theory about the motive but wouldn't discuss it until he has a chance to meet with the families of victims and answer their questions.
Lane's courtroom behavior came as a surprise, he added.
" I am totally disgusted by that," Flaiz said. "What he did today is consistent with what we thought of him all along."
One of Lane's defense attorneys, Ian Friedman, also said he was caught off-guard by the comments. The defense had signaled earlier that Lane wouldn't speak in court and didn't want anyone to speak for him.
Lane had pleaded guilty last month to three counts of aggravated murder, two counts of attempted aggravated murder and one count of felonious assault.
Life imprisonment without parole was the maximum sentence Lane faced. He wasn't eligible for the death penalty because he was 17 at the time of the shootings. Relatives of the slain students indicated earlier they wanted Lane to get the maximum sentence.
In addition to three life sentences without chance of parole, Geauga County Common Pleas Judge David Fuhry also gave Lane sentences totaling 37 additional years for attempted murder and felonious assault and using a weapon in the crimes.
He is having a lot of fun right now because he has not been to prison yet. Now that he is 18 he will get to see what itâs like in the real prison. That smirk will not be seen again. Next time anyone sees him you will see a cowering little boy scared to death of whatâs coming next. Enjoy yourself scum.
For the first time in my life, I would reccomend summary execution for contempt of court.
I believe that TJ Lane's defense attorney, despite what he claimed, knew full well about the T-shirt and knew full well what TJ was going to say in the courtroom. I think that TJ should be made to wear that T-shirt, and wear nothing else, every day of his prison sentence.
Oh his little display was his last opportunity to act out against the victims. Sooo short lived once he hits that doors of the big-boy prison. Scrawny little brat is about to begin a life of hell he so justly deserves.
That smug look is going to be wiped off his face real quick when he makes it to prison. Â From what I've heard, guards hate little punks like that, and ride their a**e** over all kinds of petty stuff. Â He'll get written up for so many different things that he'll be doing a lot of 'extra duty' or 'hole' time. Â Until he starts 'acting' human, he'll be a thing for the guards to play with. Â Too bad we'll all miss seeing him get knocked down a few pegs. Â This idiot has no clue what he is in for. Â HA HA HAÂ
@PlumBUSTED! This monster is anything but human
AND people are against the death penalty this kid is a PERFECT example why it needs to stay.
It's pretty sad that he has some mental issues that were probably not addressed before the shootings. Hopefully he will get that help in prison. I also hope that those family members who have lost a child can find some closure. It's not good to be full of rage like that.Â
@PrairieDawn Lots of people have bad lives and are even abused, but they don't go out and kill innocent people.  This scumbag has no excuse. There is no justification for his crimes, period, no discussion necessary.  Â
I find it incredibly pathetic that people posting to this topic enjoy the idea that he will likely be raped in prison. I'm sorry but that "positive" vengeful view disgusts me as much as the crime that has been committed here. I mean seriously listen to yourselves.
@Kevin S ....which is exactly why the death penalty is so appropriate. It's cheaper, the ultimate, appropriate revenge and the object of everyones' ire is gone....forever.  Oh yeah....and, it's cheaper. Did I mention it costs less too?
@bagsofdirt You mentioned it three times, which is funny, because it's not true. Google is your friend. It's real easy to look up. Death penalty cases cost more than imprisonment for life. If you want to talk about taking steps to make it cheaper and faster, that is a different discussion. But, as it stands today, the death penalty is much more costly than life in prison.
"I want him to feel my anger toward him." <-- This is the same anger that causes people to commit crimes like this. Vengeance only creates more vengeance.
@Kevin SÂ I'm sure if your kid was murdered by this idiot, you would want him to feel your wrath too.
Let him be the local b!7[# for a couple weeks, then leave a rope in his cell so we don't have to pay for his room and board for the next 60+ years.
@VoiceofReason Unfortunatly all prison will teach him is how to be a better killer next time it never reforms just INFORMS.Â
@vampiregoat69 @VoiceofReason He's a coward. Cowards hang themselves. He got 3 life sentences without the ability to be paroled. How is he going to "be a better killer next time"? That's just ludicrous.
This is what "Liberalism" does to a country. It teaches people that they are not responsible for thier actions. No accountability. The "Liberal" mindset is the cancer that is killing America. This dirt bag has no regrets. Maybe he is hopeing that the "Liberal" courts will get him off. This is just sick. And they let him wear that t-shirt. But thats the sick nature of "Liberalism"
@Busyhands You make yourself look like a fool.Â
@Busyhands You should keep your hands busier- you've got waaaaayyyy too much time to come up with your goofy ideas. Remember, idle hands are the devil's playground!
@Busyhands I am a liberal and I don't shoot people???
@Busyhands Something tells me you have no firsthand experience with anything "Liberal". You just know where you want to blindly throw your hatred.
@Busyhands pretty sure Liberalism has nothing to do with this. Sounds like you are just an angry person who needs to place blame somewhere.
Well, hopefully this little muttling with get his smart-mouthed butt shanked in the joint... AFTER his cellie 'Cletus' gets through passing him around the tier for a pack of smokes.
This is the reason y you. still want to have the Death Penalty
his time will b painful pretty boy like this
Have fun rotting in prison you piece of trash "tough guy."
and here you have an example of the kind of person that people are expecting to follow gun laws.
He won't smirk for long once he hits prison. Sad that his sister had to read the statement, wonder why his mother or father didn't take that on.
I think he should have not been allowed that tee shirt in court for one thing.  @Hadrian, you are right on the money..he looks EXACTLY like that mean kid Sid in Toy Story...looks and personality alike!  I agree with previous poster...his show of ugliness and pure mean will wear off in prison when that reality sets in. He won't be such a bad ass there. What I find interesting, is after Lane said "The hand that pulled the trigger that killed your sons now masturbates to the memory,"  one of the students who had been wounded in the shooting said Land sounded like a scared little boy and spoke so fast, you could barely understand him....Ya, I figure this guy is full of crap, big act, and needs a slap upside the head, which I am sure he'll get plenty of in prison and then some.  Take your medicine, son. Â
Although probably sane enough for trail this kid has some reality problems to deal with. It seems that to him this is all a game and bears nothing to the reality he sees in his mind. It would be nice if something could be done about him and others that are so disassociated from reality. Anyone that kills like he did has mental problems. Not the ones that can be dealt with by drugs or help, but ones that leave them in their own little world of their reality that has no relationship to the real world. I feel sorry for the kids and parents that have and will suffer for his actions. Â
@LongBeachBum Its too bad he won't realize until he is too old how many lives he threw away on a pointless act.
@Xirxious @LongBeachBum You're giving him more credit than I do, I doubt he will ever realize it. Just taking up air.
The euphoria of this man's psychosis will wear off once the reality of his life behind bars sinks in. You will die in prison, broken and sodomized T.J. Lane.
The more press you give these whack-jobs the more these events will happen.
@thebigteacher Now that is true.  Warhol didn't qualify his famous quote, for this reason.  Everybody will get their 15 min of fame, including this worthless, weak individual.  He is getting famous for being evil and taking his opportunity at leaving his stamp on the world.   This empty garbage can couldn't do anything else to stand out in life.  The only way he did, was to murder innocent people.  The mother that stated, "all you will ever be is a killer', was wrong.  He wanted to be known as a killer, but he is a coward.  That is all he was, is and all he ever will be, at least in this life.  In the afterlife, he will just be another run of the mill resident of hell.
In a simpler time, this dude would have been shot to death by the posse and dumped in the desert or woods. Â If he made it to trial, the hangman's noose right outside the courtroom, no appeals no whining, just jerk the rope, done, gone.Â
Sounds like he was going for the life sentences with that shirt on. Technically we should've done the same to him and just put him down!
No wonder this country is in debt!!!
I don't usually say things like this, but canniot resist this once. Doesn't he look just like Sid from Toy Story? Â Acts about the same, that part is clear, but the physical resemblance...wow.
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhvmjvQfaD1qb8wg6.jpg
@Hadrian I was thinking more like Kurgan from Highlander. But maybe I'm projecting what he'll look like in a few more years.
Good catch. Looks just like him
Man... Ohio sounds like a really messed-up state.Â
A Time to Kill.... such a great movie.Â
Makes a person who lives in this sterile world of technology and scientific explanations wonder if their really is such a thing as being possessed.
They need to remit this waste of resources to the custody of the victims' families. No questions could be posed to them and no concern for the whereabouts of this POS;Â this is a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that I could fully support.
Where did he get the gun if he was 17 at the time?Â
@lakeviewThey think he took his grandfathers guns      http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2108135,00.html
@lakeview You are not implying that he broke the law are you?
"'The hand that pulls the trigger that killed your sons now masturbates to the memory,' he said, then cursed at and raised his middle finger toward the victims' relatives."
The hands that prepare your prison meals for the next 40 years masturbate into them, to the memory of what else they've all added to them.Â
Bon appetite, you pathetic little POS!Â