CHARDON, Ohio — In light of recent school shootings and gun violence, plus the latest threat last week at West Geauga High School, protestors held a rally for gun safety Thursday in Chardon.
Dozens showed up at Chardon Square with one goal in mind: better and safer gun use. The city knows the issue all too well, having been the site of a 2012 high school shooting that left three students dead and three others injured.
"This is really a pro-gun reform protest — everyone out here is advocating for more reform and safety around gun violence," current Chardon High Schooler Devney Rich said. "This would include a ban on assault rifles [and] stricter background checks when purchasing firearms."
The rally comes one day after 18-year-old West Geauga student Brandon Morrissette appeared in court for the first time. The teen is charged with attempted aggravated murder after allegedly bringing a gun to the high school with a plan to shoot multiple students, and is currently being held without bond.
"I think we've learned a lot from when that has happened 11 years ago until now," Geauga County Prosecutor James R. Flaiz told 3News Wednesday when asked how the current incident evokes memories of Chardon. "This is a good example of we had a school resource officer in place, we had a very vigilant student who brought his concerns to the administration."