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'Mental breakdown' defense hinted in Georgia school shooting
CNN exclusive: Mother apologizes to communityMay 24, 1999
CONYERS, Georgia (CNN) -- A 15-year-old suburban Atlanta student had a mental breakdown before he shot and wounded six Heritage High School classmates, one of his lawyers said Monday. The suspect's mother, meantime, said the family was "deeply, deeply sorry" for his actions. An on-camera statement, given exclusively to CNN by Mae Dean Daniele, offered no explanation for Thursday's shootings by her son, Thomas "T.J." Solomon Jr. Only one of the six victims remained hospitalized Monday as Heritage High reopened. Stephanie Laster, 15, still has a bullet lodged in her abdomen, but was in good condition at an Atlanta hospital. The "mental breakdown" defense offered by attorney Edward Garland follows comments by Solomon's classmates who said the sophomore was despondent over a recent breakup with his girlfriend. "It's clear he was suicidal," Garland told CNN. "He had a gun in his mouth. It appears he had a complete mental breakdown. He's a fragile adolescent, 15 years old, with no prior history of violent action. This is an atypical type of thing that's symbolic of a mental collapse." Garland said it would be "inappropriate" to reveal what he has learned in conversations with Solomon, who remained at a youth detention center under a 24-hour suicide watch.
"His mental condition will be the entire focus of the legal investigation in this case, both by the prosecution and by his lawyers," said Garland. Garland said Solomon had been taking the prescription drug Ritalin "off and on" for an extended period of time. But the lawyer said it was unclear "what role it played, if any," on the day of the shootings. Ritalin is commonly prescribed for hyperactivity or attention deficit disorder. "There's no question he did the shooting," Garland said. "The question that everyone wants to know the answer to, and that we want to know the answer to, is 'why?'"
Daniele said she and her husband, Robert, "are deeply deeply sorry for the injuries that were caused by our son, T.J. to the children, to the families, to Heritage High School and to our community." "We thank God," she said, "that all the children are alive. We grieve for each one of you and we pray for a full recovery from all of the suffering of this tragedy." Robert Daniele is Solomon's stepfather. He married the boy's mother 11 years ago.
May Dean Daniele broke into tears as she thanked Heritage High Assistant Principal Cecil Brinkley for saving her son's life. It was Brinkley who approached the youth immediately after the shooting when the teen stuck a gun in his own mouth. "Give me the gun," Brinkley demanded repeatedly, as the boy took the weapon out of his mouth and pointed it at the educator. Solomon then surrendered the .357 revolver, threw his arms around the assistant principal and sobbed, "I'm so scared." "We will forever be grateful to him," Solomon's mother said. She did not comment on how her son obtained the weapons used in the attack. Authorities believe Solomon raided a locked gun cabinet at his parent's home and removed a .22-caliber rifle and .357 Magnum handgun. Investigators have said the Heritage High sophomore concealed the rifle in a pant leg of the baggy blue jeans he was wearing and carried the handgun in a book bag while riding the bus to school. The suspect allegedly fired 14 shots, 11 from the rifle and three from the handgun. He is currently charged as a juvenile on 21 counts, including 12 counts of aggravated assault, four counts of cruelty to children, two for possession of a weapon by a minor, two for possession of a weapon on school property and one for possession of a weapon in a crime of violence. Authorities say they believe Solomon acted alone. "We've ruled out at this point that anyone else was involved," said Rockdale County Sheriff Jeff Wigington.
Of the more than 1,300 students at Heritage High, most returned to the school on Monday, including Jason Cheek, Ryan Rosa, Drake Hoy and Brian Barnhardt -- who were wounded in Thursday's shooting. About two dozen law enforcement personnel guarded the school and helped direct traffic. A few parents volunteered to patrol the hallways. The students were given extra time in home room on Monday morning to receive and sign their yearbooks. Final exams, scheduled for this week, are now optional for Heritage students. No extra security was planned for Friday's graduation ceremonies. Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. RELATED STORIES: Georgia student shoots 6 classmates, surrenders crying RELATED SITES: Attorney General of the United States, Janet Reno
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