Prayer service held for slain Pennsylvania teacher

Students arrive at school for the first time since Friday night's shooting

April 27, 1998
Web posted at: 11:23 a.m. EDT (1523 GMT)

EDINBORO, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- The teacher gunned down at a weekend school dance was remembered on Monday at a prayer service before the start of classes.

About 70 students, some wearing white ribbons, attended the service at Parker Middle School in northwestern Pennsylvania. School district Superintendent Therese Walter told teachers to prepare for "the absolutely most difficult day of their careers."

Police say Andrew Wurst, 14, an eighth-grader at the school, shot and killed teacher John Gillette, 48, and slightly wounded three others at a school dinner-dance Friday night.

Violence against U.S. kids is common Survey: Serious violence at 10 percent of schools Interactive Map: Recent shootings at U.S. schools Statistics: School violence at a glance Message Boards: Are our schools safe?

Witnesses said he pulled out a .25-caliber handgun and shot Gillette in the head, then walked inside a banquet hall and fired several more shots before leaving. The wounded did not require hospitalization.

Authorities in Edinboro, a town of about 5,000 people located 100 miles north of Pittsburgh, said they did not know of a motive in the shootings.

Viewings for Gillette, a science teacher and father of three, were to be held later on Monday. Gillette's funeral was scheduled for Tuesday.

Wurst is in isolation at the Erie County Prison. He is charged as an adult with homicide, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment. He also faces gun and drug charges.

Police said he was carrying a small amount of marijuana when he was arrested. If convicted, he could face life in prison. Under Pennsylvania law, a 14-year-old cannot be sentenced to death.

Message board:

School violence

Related stories:

• Classes resume Monday after middle school shooting - April 26, 1998
• Pennsylvania students cope with shooting spree - April 25, 1998
• Violent crime rising at U.S. schools - April 12, 1998
• School shootings have high profile but occur infrequently - March 25, 1998
• Violence against U.S. kids is common - March 25, 1998

Related sites:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

• Edinboro, Pennsylvania Community Web
  • Parker Middle School - unofficial page
• General McLane School District - Edinboro, PA
• Borough of Edinboro, Pennsylvania
• Saint Vincent Health System
• GoErie.com - site of the Erie Morning News and Erie Daily Times
• National Center for Education Statistics
  • Statistical analysis report: Violence and Discipline Problems in U.S. Public Schools, 1996-97
• National Alliance for Safe Schools
• Gun-free Schools Act of 1994

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

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