Michael Schwartz, 13
/ Courtesy: Wauseon Reporter
WAUSEON -- Details of what happened, just before 7 a.m., at the Howard Avenue home where 13-year-old Michael Schwartz was fatally shot on Monday are yet to be released.
“We know what happened. We're just trying to put together the pieces at this point in time,” Wauseon Police Chief Keith Torbet said.
What authorities have said so far is that the Wauseon rescue squad worked to revive the 7th grader but he died from his injuries.
“It was not a drive by. The suspect is in custody, being held pending charges,” Torbet said.
While officials do believe the shooting was accidental, they say the juvenile suspect’s name is being withheld until formal charges are filed.
Initially a second juvenile suspect has been taken into custody, but was later released.
Wednesday evening, a prayer vigil was held at the First Christian Church of Wauseon to help the victim's mother and family cope with their loss.
Meantime, school officials are left to handle to the emotional impact Schwartz’s death with likely have on his classmates.
“Obviously we became aware of the tragedy that took place and we immediately assembled our crisis team at the middle school,” Wauseon Exempted Village Schools Superintendent Marc Robinson said.
Made up of around a dozen members, including school counselors and youth pastors, Schwartz’s classmates at Wauseon Middle School were read a statement on what happened.
“[We wanted] to share with them that one of their classmates was unfortunately no longer with us,” Robinson said.
The team of experts will be on hand for as long as they are needed and for anyone whether they knew Schwartz or not.
“There could be a number of youngsters that personally never had to deal with any type of death,” Robinson added.
The Wauseon Exempted Village Schools Superintendent also shared the district’s condolences to Schwartz’s family.
A fund has been set up at any Fifth Third Bank, in the name of Michael Schwartz, Jr., to help pay for the family's funeral expenses.
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