Cleveland (Ohio), USA: A 14-year-old opened fire in his school, wounding four people, including two teachers. He then killed himself, authorities reported on Wednesday.
Asa H Coon had a history of mental problems and was known for cussing at teachers and bickering with students.
Coon had been suspended two days before the attack; on Monday, he had fought with his classmates, saying he did not believe in God and instead worshipped rocker Marilyn Manson. After his suspension, he warned class-mates of an attack - but no one took him seriously.
''He's crazy. He threatened to blow up our school. He threatened to stab everybody,'' said Doneisha LeVert, 14. ''We didn't think nothing (sic!) of it.''
''When he got suspended, he was like 'I got something for you all,''' said student Frances Henderson, who said she often got into arguments with Coon. ''I guess this is what he had.''
Armed with two revolvers, on Wednesday, Coon fired eight shots, Police Chief Michael McGrath said. Police found a duffel bag stocked with ammunition and three knives in a bathroom, but no suicide note, he said.
Witnesses said the shooter worked his way up through the first two floors of administrative offices of SuccessTech to the third floor of classrooms. He was wearing a Manson shirt, black jeans and black-painted finger nails, police said.
The first person shot, 14-year-old Michael Peek, had punched Coon in the face for bumping into him. The other student, Darnell Rodgers, realised he had been shot when he felt his arm burning.
Though Police believe Coon targeted the two teachers he shot, Maths teacher David Kachadourian, who was treated for a minor wound, disagrees. Coon was a student in his beginning algebra class.
''I never felt personally threatened or personally at risk,'' Kachadourian said. ''I had concerns about him, yes. He seemed like an angry young man. I did not fear for my own safety.''
The other teacher 42-year-old Michael Grassie, was hospitalised in fair condition after about two hours of surgery.
Juvenile court records have revealed Coon had mental health problems and had spent time in two juvenile facilities and had threatened to commit suicide while in a mental health facility. Social services had even been called to Coon's home in 2000 because he had burns on his arms and scratches on his forehead.
When he was 12, Coon was charged in juvenile court with domestic violence. His mother, Lori, had called police and told them her son slapped her and called her a vulgar name. She had been trying to intervene in a fight between Coon and his twin sister, reported the Plain Dealer newspaper reported. He was also suspended from school last year for attempting to hurt a student, the newspaper said.
SuccessTech Academy is an alternative high school in the public school district that stresses technology and entrepreneurship for about 240 students. It opened five years ago and has a high graduation rate of 94 percent. SuccessTech Academy's demographic comprises mostly of black students, with a small number of white and Hispanic students.
Coon, who is white, stood out in the predominantly black school for dressing in a goth style, wearing a black trench coat, black boots, a dog collar and chains. However, Frances Henderson, the black student who said she frequently argued with him, said she did not believe race played a role in the shootings.
All classes in the city school district were cancelled on Thursday, and school officials said counseling would be available for students at recreation centers throughout Cleveland.
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