Chief Mark Brink: Photo by Ken Robinson - WTAM/iHeartMedia
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, OH - Jackson Township Police released more information regarding last week's shooting at Jackson Memorial Middle School.
Supplemental Information Regarding Last Weekâs Shooting at Jackson Memorial Middle School
Chief Mark Brink, Jackson Township Police Department, would like to provide the parents of Jackson Memorial Middle School students and the citizens of Jackson Township pertinent information regarding the investigation of last weekâs shooting at Jackson Memorial Middle School.
Last Wednesday, February 21, 2018, Keith Simons, a 7th grade student at Jackson Memorial Middle School died from a confirmed gunshot wound to the head that was self-inflicted on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 in a school bathroom.
The following preliminary timeline has been constructed based on a review of available surveillance video:
At approximately 7:10 a.m., Simons departed his home and walked with a noticeable limp to the bus stop Simons had a weapon concealed in his clothing.
At approximately 7:44 a.m., Simons arrived at school and immediately proceeded to a male bathroom. Within a couple of minutes, Simons is observed exiting the bathroom with a black long gun in his hands (.22 rifle), approximately four students were in the vicinity, but did not appear to notice Simons. One male student leaving the bathroom did notice Simons holding a weapon, that student proceeded to notify faculty.
At approximately 7:50 a.m., faculty found Simons lying on the bathroom floor and yelled for 911 to be contacted.
The investigation to date has revealed some disturbing documentation on Simonsâ phone involving an âadmirationâ for the Columbine shooters along with an eight-step plan of âattackâ at Jackson Memorial Middle School. The discovered documentation contained entries from February 14, 2018 through February 20, 2018. Portions of a few of these entries are listed below:
February 16, 2018 - âI wanna leve a lasting impression on the world and I Keith M. Simons also wants to leve a lasting impression on the world.â
February 17, 2018 - âIâll look in to those scared little britches eyes before I kill them thereâs now Iâll have followers because Iâm so awesome I know someone will follow me just like I followed Eric Harris and Dylan Kleboltâs me and them want close to the same thing, Itâs going to be funâŠâŠThey say school shootings are horrible but they donât think like us like me Eric and DylanâŠ.â.
February 18, 2018 - ââŠ..Iâm going to die doing it, I hate those people, when they interview my parents and ask how they didnât see the signs they should know itâs not them itâs me and itâs because of how I see the worldâŠ.Iâd hurt and destroy something bigger but my schools an easy targetâŠ.â
February 19, 2018 - ââŠâŠthis will be bigger than anything this countryâs ever seen, âŠâŠ..Iâve been planning this for a few weeks and thought about it a few months, I will never be forgotten Iâll be a stain in American history and the Simons history, itâs going to be so mutch fun. They wonât expect a thingâ.
From the documentation retrieved from Simonâs phone Simons intended on conducting a school shooting at Jackson Memorial Middle School. No evidence has been discovered to explain why Simons changed his mind from shooting others at the school to him retreating back into the bathroom where he took his own life. What we do know is Simons had a fascination with school shooters, specifically the Columbine shooters, and he had access to a weapon.
This continues to be an ongoing investigation. Additional interviews need to be completed, as well as, a thorough review of all electronic devices Simons may have utilized. At this time, there is no substantiated information indicating that anyone else was involved or had knowledge of Simonsâ plan. However, until all avenues are investigated we cannot rule out any possibility. Upon completion of this investigation and at the appropriate time, any publicly available information will be released.
Thank you for your continued understanding and support.
(c) iHeartMedia 2018
Photo by Ken Robinson - WTAM/iHeartMedia