There are now more details about the chronology of the SuccessTech shooting.
Police say Coon came to school with two revolvers, ammunition, and knives. Police also found a duffel bag with clothes in the bathroom where Coon allegedly prepared for the attack. Police Chief Michael McGrath's description of events is consistent with stories we've heard from student witnesses. He says it all started in the fourth floor bathroom.
Michael McGrath: it was in this bathroom that he changed clothes, and probably, I can't be specific, removed what he had in his duffel bag and placed on his person. After exiting the bathroom, he encountered a student, and after encountering that student, went to a specific classroom and as a result shot that teacher.
Police believe the two teachers he shot were targeted.
Michael McGrath: Currently what we know now is that it was over some disciplinary issues that this particular suspect had with teachers in the school.
Police are now conducting comprehensive interviews of all the witnesses.
We also know more about the troubled life of Asa Coon. Since 2006, police responded to Coon's home five times. The calls included an assault call, a property crime call, and domestic violence. There is also word today that Coon's older brother has been taken into custody by police. Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Prosecutor Carmen Naso says his brother may have been an influence.
Carmen Naso: And his environment, living with an older brother who has a long violent history of criminal activity, not only in the juvenile court and he was also convicted in the adult court and went to prison for it.
Court records show Coon was admitted to a youth mental health facility in April 2006 after attempting suicide. He was subsequently put on psychiatric medication and may have suffered from bipolar tendencies.
We don't know yet how much officials at SuccessTech knew about Coon's criminal and mental problems, but, as part of their contract, Cleveland teachers are supposed to be notified about any behavioral problems in a student's past.
The safety plan that schools CEO Eugene Sanders is expected to present to Mayor Jackson is supposed to reassure parents that security and procedures will be improved. Neither Sanders, nor Jackson attended the briefing, but spokesperson Maureen Harper said a big focus will be prevention.
Maureen Harper: They will present a plan surrounding how we interact with students and our teachers in our district, how we help identify potential problems, how we spot red flags and deal with them when they do come up.
Timothy Dimoff, a school security expert based in Akron, says a big improvement would be to have an anonymous tipline where students could report unusual behavior and not face repercussions.
Timothy Dimoff: and I think that's the first step and I think we've skipped it. I think we've expected them to go from not saying anything and having confidence with their friends to saying everything.
Councilman Joe Cimperman, who represents the downtown district that includes SuccessTech, commends the emergency response, but says the community will need time to process the event.
Joe Cimperman: What we have to do now is really repair the social fabric. And that's the trust between those who have information and those who can do something about it.
In the meantime, there's good news about the victims. Three have already been discharged from the hospital, and all have a good prognosis from doctors.