Help sought for mother of Richmond shooter
She called 911 to report her son was headed to school with gun.
The family of Brandon Clegg called on the community to support the teen’s mom, who called 911 to warn authorities about her son.
The family of 14-year-old Brandon Clegg, the teenager who took his own life during a confrontation with police at a Richmond, Ind., school, called the incident a tragedy and called on the community to support the teen’s mother, who called 911 to warn authorities about her son.
Nearly 100 people from Clegg’s family, friends and others attended a candlelight vigil Sunday night at Glenn Miller Park in Richmond.
The vigil came three days after law enforcement followed Clegg into Dennis Intermediate School after he fired a shot at a door to gain entry into the school. Dennis and the district’s other school buildings were locked down after Clegg’s mother called 911 to report her son was armed and heading to the school.
It’s not clear why Clegg took a firearm to the school, but friends and family say he was bullied by others and had dropped out of Dennis Intermediate.
Clegg’s uncle Bob Harney spoke for the family at Sunday night’s candlelight vigil.
Harney asked those gathered there to support Clegg’s mother, Mary York, who attended the vigil. The family said York was not ready to tell her side of the story.
“Yeah it was a tragedy what happened, but we’ve got to get this stuff under control folks. These kids are killing themselves every day, and nothing’s being done about it,” Harney said. “We don’t condone what happened. None of us do. But you folks gotta remember this lady made a phone call that I’m not sure I could have made.”
Officials said York’s 911 call enabled officers to get to the school before Clegg could harm others.
“She was going to save a lot of those kids. She wasn’t going to let him take anyone of them with him,” said Harney. “She says, ‘No, I’m not a hero.’ I’m not saying she’s a hero. But all those kids went home that night and all their parents hugged them and tucked them in bed except one.”
Deanna Dill, of Richmond, said she didn’t know Clegg or his family, but she attended the vigil to let the family know that her thoughts and prayers are with them.
“I can’t imagine having to be in that position to make that phone call,” Dill said. “I hope it just shows that, you know, that we’re thankful that she did what she did, that we want to support her in any way that we can.”
Dennis Intermediate School is expected to reopen today .