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School Climate & Safety

School Shootings: A Timeline

April 28, 1999 1 min read
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School-Related Deaths Nationwide

1992-93: 55
1993-94: 51
1994-95: 20
1995-96: 35
1996-97: 25
1997-98: 40
1998-99: 24*
NOTE: Figures include suicides and adult deaths as well as homicides of students.
* Figure includes Jefferson County, Colo., fatalities as of late last week.
SOURCE: Justice Policy Institute.

Timeline

A series of school slayings drew national attention during the 1997-98 school year.

May 21, 1998:Two students are killed and 22 are wounded in shootings at the 1,500-student Thurston High School in Springfield, Ore. The 15-year-old suspect is awaiting trial.
May 19, 1998: One student is killed in a parking lot at the 1,100-student Lincoln County High School in Fayetteville, Tenn. The 18-year-old suspect is set to go to trial in July.
April 24, 1998:A teacher at the 900-student Parker Middle School in Edinboro, Pa., is shot to death at an 8th grade school dance; two boys are injured. A 14-year-old boy is awaiting trial.
March 24, 1998:Four students and a teacher are shot to death, and 10 others are wounded, at the 250-student Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark. Two students, ages 11 and 13, have been convicted of murder in juvenile court and could be held until age 21.
Dec. 1, 1997: Three students are killed and five are wounded at the 490-student Heath High School in West Paducah, Ky. A 14-year-old boy is serving a life sentence for the killings.
Oct. 1, 1997: Two students are killed and seven are injured at the 1,040-student Pearl High School in Pearl, Miss. The gunman, who was 16 at the time, had slit his mother’s throat before going to the school. He is serving a life sentence.

A version of this article appeared in the April 28, 1999 edition of Education Week as School Shootings

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