UNDER THE GUN: Chesco DA Talks School Shootings, Why They Happen and How to Stop Them

Photos and video by Evan Brandt

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan gave a presentation at Owen J. Roberts High School Wednesday night on school shootings, how to identify a shooter and what can be done to prevent them.

Many in the sparsely populated audience had never held a gun.

Many had never heard an AR-15 fired.

The guns were heavy, and the rifle crack was loud in the acoustically focused auditorium.

Take a listen on this video:



The occasion was a presentation on school shootings and how parents, teachers and even students can best protect themselves during a school shooting.

The presenters were Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan and Downingtown Police Detective Andy Trautmann.

They outlined what they have learned over the years, Hogan as an agent fighting terrorism before being elected district attorney and Trautmann as both a SWAT team commander and former School Resource Officer.

OJR parents hold a variety of deadly objects including guns, 

a hammer,and a bottle of prescription drugs during Wednesday's

presentation at Owen J. Roberts High School.

There are 360 million guns in the United States and only 325 million people so, as Hogan put it, "guns aren't going anywhere."

Guns are also simple and hardy tools, said Hogan, holding up a revolver and saying he could bury it in the ground for 70 years, dig it up, clean it off "and it would work fine."

School shooters are most often males, between the ages of 15 to 19, or 35 to 44.

Teen shooters usually have a grudge against a school and older men who become school shooters face pressures from work, family failed marriages, know they will not be a major league pitcher for the Phillies.

"This is the age when they realize, this is their life," said Hogan., adding that "once we reach 50, we are either more likely to be past those pressures, or learned to live with them."

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan holds up a handgun.

An "active shooter," is someone who "wants to run the numbers up, get as high a body count as they possibly can," said Trautmann.

"A targeted shooter has a target in mind. Although they can turn into active shooters and they will shoot someone whop gets in their way," he said.

Many focus on high schools as targets, but when a shooter is not a student, the targets are usually "softer" targets like middle or elementary schools, said Hogan.

"High schools are full of teenage knuckleheads with hormones raging through their bodies who take big risks and are easily triggered," making them less attractive to an active shooter who does not have a grudge against a particular school, he said.

Police generally plan to face a single shooter when responding to a school shooting. Those involving more than one, tend to be stopped before they occur. "Give me five guys going to attack a school, and I guarantee you one of them will screw up," he said.

Hogan points to the parent holding a bottle of oxycodone and says
far more children will die from drug use than being shot in school.

Hogan noted that a year later, and the expending of no small amount of effort and resources, ""the FBI still have no idea why the shooter in Las Vegas did what he did."

Why Does it Happen?

School shootings have many causes, including copy cats and a desensitization to violence.

That happens most commonly in recent times as the result of "first-person shooter" games, said Hogan.

He described a murder case in which two men were fighting over a gun and a third man who was friends with one of the men carefully shot the one fighting with his friend.

"He drew his gun, aimed carefully and waited until he had his shot and hit his target, he waited and did it again, and again. He didn't have SWAT training, he was not in the military, he had learned it from playing video games," Hogan said.

"We've trained up a whole generation of trained shooters," he said.

Trautmann said he was amazed while serving as a School Resource Officer, how often teens came up to him to ask him about specific guns "and if I had ever shot one. They knew them all from their games," he said.

He said the games desensitize people to violence the same way military and police training does.

Downington Police Det. Andy Trautmann brought several guns
to Wednesday night's demonstration.

"They found in World War I that most soldiers just fired their guns, they didn't fire at or hit their
targets," he said.

By World War II and Korea, the military was training with more life-like targets "to desensitize them," said Trautmann. "It's the same thing we do in SWAT training."

Another factor is social media, said Hogan.

"Back when I was in school, two guys wanted to call each other names you know what happened. They had a fist fight and then they were done," Hogan said.

Now, however, social media abuse taunts teens in from of the whole school and can drag on for months.

(On the plus side, it does allow the authorities to intervene more quickly if its more visible.)

Another factor is that "kids are under more pressure than we were in school, they do more homework than we did in school" said Hogan. "When my daughter was in second grade, she was already talking about what college she was going to go to and she was not alone."

Trautmann said "it takes less than a second to shoot someone."
He said with a gun like the AR-15 he is holding,
he can fire 8 shots a second.

Most important to understand is there is no one single cause, said Hogan.

How Does a Shooter Become a Shooter?

The first phase of becoming a school shooter is the fantasy stage, Hogan said.

"They fantasize about the shooting and, if they post about it on social media, we can find out about it and stop it. Ninety-nine percent of them are stopped before they happen," he said.

The second stage if planning: the shooter thinks about how to sneak materials into school ahead of time, researching how you build a bomb.

The third stage is preparation. They may, for example, start shooting in the woods to improve their aim.

"When it's not hunting season, if you're hearing shots in the woods, you should absolutely call us and let us check it out," said Trautmann. "We would rather investigate 100 incidents that turn out to be nothing, than miss an opportunity to stop a school shooting."

"We had an eighth grader in Downingtown with floor plans of every school. He tried to buy ingredients for a thermite bomb, and he had Hitler's book Mein Kampf on his computer," said Trautmann. "He was stopped.Any time they have blue prints, you're in trouble."

The fourth phase is the approach stage, driving to school or hiding something in school during evening sports events.

Trautmann displays a handgun so small it can be fit into a belt buckle.

The fifth and final phase is once the shooting starts. "Ninety-nine percent of the time, it's stopped ahead of time and you never hear about," Hogan said.

What Can You Do?

The most important resource law enforcement has are the parents and members of the community, said Hogan. He urged parents to monitor their children's social media accounts, look at their phones at texts, emails and more, to search their rooms.

Very important is to lock up household guns. "We often find shooters get guns from homes, or friend's home, where guns are not locked up," hogan said.

Schools must train staff continuously and drill regularly so that, like fire drills, children will be safer. "The last time someone died in a school fire was the 1950s," Trautmann said.

Because police now train to enter as soon as possible, not to wait for the SWAT team, and to shoot anyone with a gun, Hogan said Chester County officials do not support arming teachers.

Trautmann said they are unlikely to train regularly enough to hit where they're aiming and are more likely to be shot by police.

Both said Owen J. Roberts has made one of the most important investments, in a school district police force and a head of security, and said schools must work to keep a balance between turning a school into a prison, and making it "a totally open campus."

You can learn more below in the Tweets from the presentation:

Gunfire at Owen J. Roberts High School

Kutztown to Join OJR Cavalcade Saturday to Honor, Richard Wells, Former Director of Both Programs

From 1961 to 1968, Richard Wells, an Owen J. Roberts alumnus, was the band director for his alma mater.

Then he was named Associate Professor of the music department at Kutztown University and, in 1997, after 29 years of teaching, he retired and was named professor emeritus.

This Saturday, both of Wells' alma maters will join together into on giant band to close the 47th Annual Owen J. Roberts Cavalcade of Bands with a performance of "America the Beuatiful." 

And Wells will be there to lead them.

The cavalcade begins at 5:55 p.m. in Wildcat Stadium on the campus of Owen J. Roberts High School. 

Kutztown, like OJR, is a large ensemble with a great band tradition. The audience can look forward to a spectacular performance composed of winds, brass, percussion, and color guard members who bring with them a wide variety of talents and experiences, according to Todd Mengel, the current OJR band director.

"The idea is to make this a very special night for Mr. Wells and honor him for his service to both schools," Mengel wrote in an email. "We will also be presenting Mr. Wells with a plaque and doing a dedication to him that night." 

Wells is credited with establishing the jazz studies program at KU and he continues to direct the alumni jazz ensembles.

The large ensemble rehearsal space at Kutztown University was named for Wells in 2013 as part of a $20 million renovation and expansion of Schaeffer Auditorium. KU alumni, students, faculty and staff raised more than $500,000 to honor Wells with the naming rights.

At the cavalcade show, Owen J. Roberts and Kutztown University will honor Wells’ 36 years as a music educator. 

"He has influenced scores of students to aspire to excellence in music performance," wrote Mengel. "A resident of the Owen J. Roberts School District, Mr. Wells remains loyal to the ideals and benefits of music and education and may be seen at both high school and college events."

The 2017 Cavalcade of Music event will operate as a “showcase” event rather than a competition. Owen J. Roberts Marching Band has recently become a member of the Lancaster County Marching Band Coalition which gives high school bands adjudicated (judged) opportunities to receive professional feedback rather than rankings or numerical scores. 

Part of the energy of the event comes from the fact that all spectators, including students from other performing bands, are seated on the home sideline, so that everyone can listen, observe, and enjoy the performances as they were intended...from the front. This method of engagement allows performers the ability to relax and have fun while providing a peer learning opportunity for student spectators.

In lieu of an awards ceremony, the audience can be prepared for a super, grand finale of music and visual energy.

Founded in 1934, the Kutztown University Marching Unit is comprised of 150 students under the direction of Professor Dan Neuenschwander. 

The marching unit is open to any KU student, regardless of their field of study.

The event is open to the public and tickets are available at the gate. Ticket prices are $10/adult, $8/senior and $5/students (grades K- College). 

Concession stands will offer food and drinks for purchase. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the first band will perform at 6 p.m. A list of performing bands is available at ojrbandmpo.com.

A Crowd of Crowns

Dana Landes
Pottsgrove

Danielle Cronner
Boyertown

July 4th Homecoming Queens from four area high schools will be at the McDonald's on East High Street next week.

They'll be there, 1428 E. High St., on Wednesday May 28 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

It will be the first Annual Meet of the July 4th Homecoming Queens.

They hail from Pottstown High School, Pottsgrove High School, Owen J. Roberts High School and Boyertown Area High School.

Sarah Maloney
Owen J. Roberts

Megan Remick
Pottstown

The girls will be raising money for the July 4th parade in Pottstown this year.

Each penny is a vote closer for them to become the 2014
Pottstown July 4th Queen.

Photos may be taken of your child with the Homecoming Queen of their choice for $1. 

So bring your camera or use your cell phone.

This Saturday in Killer Robot Science!

Blogger's Note: As any regular reader of The Digital Notebook knows, I am pretty wild for the phrase "killer robot," and so when this information came over the transom, I couldn't resist. Anyway, there is the information from the Pottstown School District's Robotic Information Officer, or RIO, John Armato.

Members of the Pottstown High School newly formed robotics team will be ready to defend the human race should robots attempt to take control of the world.

Recently, two teams of students competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) held at Owen J. Roberts High School. 

FIRST Tech Challenge is a non-profit organization whose mission is “to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.” 

The “Challenge” requires students to utilize STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) and 21st Century skills to design, build, program, test, and ultimately compete with robots.

Team Newmatics with team members Rob Boyle, Rashad Cole, Broc Ferguson, Dan Garcia, and
Delanie Hain placed 3rd in the qualifying rounds and participated in the semi-final competition. 

Also participating in the semi-finals as part of an “alliance team” were the Automatons led by Dan O’Brien, Jason Levengood, Kenil Patel, MaSofia Sosa, and Heather Swanson.

The day was filled with excitement and adventure. 

There were software and hardware glitches to be overcome and fierce competition from the opposing teams. 

 Mr. Decker one of the team sponsors said, “Our team is newly formed and our students are gaining valuable experience that will help them compete at a higher level in future competitions. The problem-solving experiences they have had are invaluable to them.”

“The atmosphere at this challenge is electrifying. Seeing our students working cooperatively to problem-solve the glitches they encountered can only help improve their skills. Having activities that place such a high emphasis on the value of practical use of academic knowledge is exciting and rewarding to watch,” stated science teacher and team sponsor Laura Wise.

Decker noted that this year’s team received its start from a 21st Century grant and the support of the Pottstown School District.

Decker said, “Our team has already started preparations for our next competition held in York Pennsylvania later this month and look forward to the challenge.”

The Tree's the Thing

"Fluffy" in all its (his? her?) splendor...

So my sister had this great idea for our mom, an advent calendar for the year filled with our memories
of her.

(Don't worry, it will still be a surprise, not even my mom reads this blog regularly.)

Anyway, while I was writing up my December memory, it reminded me something about my childhood Christmases, I was the one in my family who really liked to decorate.

My family is an ironic bunch and I am the chief sap in the family.

Jaded journalist? Yes.

Guy who tears up at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life" every time? Also yes.

Hell, I even get choked up watching Chevy Chase try to get his family to appreciate Christmas.

Understand, for me Christmas for me is about the sentiment.

A local ornament I bought in 2002.

The idea that we can set aside a time of year to wish everyone, no matter who they are, a merry Christmas, peace on Earth, good will toward men, I'm totally in.

I don't begrudge those who consider it a religious holiday.

More power to them, and I'm happy it gives them joy and purpose.

But history shows that Jesus was born sometime in March and the whole Christmas thing was just the Church's way of co-opting pagans into the fold

But hey, that's ancient history. Literally.

And we still carry many of those pagan traditions into our homes each year, the most central of which is the Christmas tree.

For me, the tree holds pride of place. Not because of the gifts that go under it. Frankly, I could do without the gifts and just go for the decorations, the food, and, most especially, the music. Always the music.

My grandmother made this many

years ago.

Anyway, the reason the tree is so important to me is that, being an amateur historian, the tree each year
tells the story of our family.

I have some truly God-awful ornaments that my mother's mother made for our tree that I still put up each year, even though they often go in the back.

I don't love it, but it wouldn't be our Christmas tree without it. It's where we're from.

Regular readers of this blog (yes, both of you) may recall a post I wrote in the 2011 season about a tree we accepted as a gift from a friend who had cut it down and which fell unceremoniously one morning.

The chief casualty of that mishap was an ornament my wife had inherited from her grandmother. We talk about its loss every year as we decorate.

Each year we buy a new ornament (or two) and add to our history.

This ornament is the product of one
year's 

craft project.

And, in our house, it takes days to decorate the tree.

Firstly, my son has important XBox responsibilities and my wife is already working hard to corral him into this year's craft project.

One advantage (if you choose to look at it that way) of being a poor journalist is that family gets hand-made gifts each year

My son's favorite ornament.

Understand, we long ago banned gifts for adults (much to my delight, and my banker's as well) and only buy presents for the kids. But we insist that the child at least recognize the largesse from which he benefits by donating time (if not talent) toward gifts for those making his Christmas one filled with things he actually wants.

My wife is quite clever (and talented) in this regard and gifts have ranged from birdhouse ornaments, to hand-made coasters and stuff I couldn't even begin to explain.

The Wizard of Oz lives in Fluffy.

But the end result of all this activity is that mostly, I decorate the tree while leaving certain things aside for the other two for whom a particular ornament has particular meaning.

For my son, it is a saxophone ornament, and for my wife, a Wizard of Oz set.

As for me, I don't mind doing most of it, silently remembering the trip my wife and I took to Boston when we purchased a whole host of animal ornaments, those we bought in Cape Cod, as well as the one's Dylan made as a child.

The Cape Cod ornament.

With his interest waning, I am quietly setting some of those aside. (Good thing he doesn't read this blog either....)

We use to go each year to Kutz's tree farm in North Coventry, but since that became another practice field for Owen J. Roberts High School, we have been at loose ends.

We've tried different places and this year went to buy our tree from the Mosaic Community Garden on Chestnut Street. But we have a neo-Victorian house (built in 1913) and eight-foot ceilings. The trees they had there were just too small.

(They're still selling them there and you can call ahead and order a certain height.)

They're very friendly at the community garden.

But we decided to patronize the tree farm which had supplied those trees at a reduced cost. Heylmun's Pine Hill Farm, also in North Coventry.

And, for the first time in our family history, we cut down our own tree.

My wife and I are partial to concolor, a species of spruce I believe, because they keep their needles, bu they didn't have any at Heylmun's, so we settled on a white pine.

Yes, I cut it myself!

Unlike trees from previous years, the needles of a white pine are long and soft, an advantage to the decorator, but a disadvantage to the display of the ornaments, which tend to get hidden.

Anyway, each year is a different story, which is why I tend to favor the tree decorating, it adds to the narrative.

This year's narrative will include the tree being purchased just before one snow storm hit, and finished as another was arriving.

What more perfect Christmas story could you ask for?

Merry Christmas everyone. Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward Men (and Women.)

 

After the Fire, the Fire Still Burns.

Blogger's Note: Another quality submission from Friend of the Blog, John Armato, Pottstown's Number One Cheerleader

RIVERFRONT PARK -- High water could not stop the Pottstown High School Bonfire tradition Wednesday night.  

With the rising water of the Schuylkill River only a few feet from the fire, the annual Pottstown/O.J. Roberts pre-game Thanksgiving Day bonfire proceeded undaunted. 

 

Sponsored by the Touchdown Club it was complete with players, music, cheerleaders, coaches and fans. 

As an added treat the class of 1961 was on hand and added to the event and the celebration of their 50th reunion by adding a eight foot tall wooden 61 to fuel  the fire.

(And for those you who don't already know, Pottstown won that game today in what may well be the very last Thanksgiving Day game between the two rivals in a 49-6 blow-out at Grigg Memorial Field.

Someone must have lit a fire under those kids ....