St. Charles student suspended after hit list discovered

Staff report

BOARDMAN

A 12-year-old St. Charles School seventh-grader was suspended Monday afternoon after the school found the student had a hit list.

St. Charles Principal Mary Welsh said a student notified a teacher of the student with a homicide list in the classroom. Welsh said the student with the list was sent to the school’s office.

No teachers were on the list, Welsh said. Boardman Police Chief Jack Nichols said it included eight names.

Welsh said she talked with the student, the diocese superintendent and the Boardman Police Department Monday afternoon. She said the student was suspended but did not say for how long.

“We thought it was necessary to get police involved since we felt security was threatened at the school,” Welsh said. “This was a very rare occurrence for St. Charles. Monday we had excellent attendance, kids were learning, and it was a peaceful day.”

Nichols said he sent Chuck Hillman, Boardman school resource officer, to investigate. He said Hillman spoke with the 12-year-old and his parents at their residence. He said Hillman has been in constant communication with Welsh.

Police have not filed charges against the student. Nichols said police plan to talk to the prosecutor at the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center sometime this week to discuss charges.

“We want to seek their advice before taking action,” Nichols said.

All parents of children at St. Charles received an email Tuesday about the incident. Welsh said she personally spoke with a few parents over the phone.

Welsh said the school has been following a crisis manual for the school that is updated each August by the Youngstown Diocese and St. Charles administration.

“We try to include all kinds of crises that could possibly happen,” Welsh said.

Nichols said he expects this case to be resolved by the end of the week.