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Mother Of Richmond Schools Shooter Could Face Six Felony Charges

By Lauren Chapman, IPB News | Published on in Crime, Education, Family Issues, Law
Wayne County Courthouse (Wikimedia Commons)
Wayne County Courthouse (Wikimedia Commons)

The mother of a 14-year-old who died by suicide in December after shooting his way into a Richmond middle school could face six felony charges.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office filed felony charges against Mary York, including dangerous control of a child and depriving a child of necessary support.

The charges still have to be approved by a judge.

York called 911 on Dec. 13, 2018 to alert authorities her son was on his way to “shoot up” Dennis Intermediate School, according to Indiana State Police. The school was immediately placed on lockdown.

Police found her 14-year-old son as he shot a glass door to get inside the school. He and police exchanged gunfire as officers pursued him into the school. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

READ MORE: Shooting At Richmond School, Teenage Shooter Dead

At the time, Indiana State Police Sgt. John Bowling said York’s early morning tip likely prevented anyone else inside the school from getting hurt.

The probable cause affidavit filed Friday said York’s son had depression issues for years, and had been referred to an inpatient program. The felonies are related to York removing her son from that program because of the cost and not reporting an incident in October 2018 when her son discharged a handgun in her home.

According to the affidavit, after the October 2018 incident, York had kept the handgun and a rifle he used in the shooting in a locked gun cabinet. On Dec. 12, 2018, the day before the shooting he recorded a video of himself breaking into the cabinet and said he planned to kill people at the middle school the next day.

He was not a student at Dennis Intermediate School. York had taken him out of Richmond Community Schools two years earlier, and he was taking online classes.

Contact Lauren at lchapman@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @laurenechapman_.