WKSU News: Chardon High School shooter T.J. Lane captured hours after prison escape

Friday, September 12, 2014 Chardon High School shooter T.J. Lane captured hours after prison escape The 19-year-old is serving three life sentences for killing Daniel Parmertor, Demetrius Hewlin and Russell King Jr. by WKSU's KABIR BHATIA	Reporter Kabir Bhatia

Chardon students held a vigil one year after the 2012 shootings

Courtesy of Kevin Niedermier

UPDATE 5 a.m.: Authorities say all three inmates are now in custody. Clifford Opperud, who remained at-large overnight, was apprehended around 4:30 a.m. Friday.

Chardon High School shooter T.J. Lane has been captured after escaping from a Lima prison Thursday night.

Police say 19-year-old Lane escaped around 7 p.m. Thursday along with two other inmates. One of the inmates was captured soon after, but the other -- Clifford Opperud -- is still at large.

In 2012, Lane walked into the cafeteria at Chardon High School, about 40 minutes east of Cleveland, and shot six students, killing three: Daniel Parmertor, Demetrius Hewlin and Russell King Jr.

He pleaded guilty last year, saying he didn't know why he did it, and was given three life sentences.

Opperud is not believed to be armed. Allen Oakwood Correctional Facility Warden Kevin Jones says he cannot comment on the escape, pending investigation.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Capt. Gary Allen says the escapes happened during recreation time, and that Lane surrendered without incident.

“I would have to say the reason that he didn't get any further than he did was cause of the immediate perimeter. With the help of the Sherriff’s office, and the officers that were in the area, they were able to shut the perimeter down pretty quick.

"You have to be aware of your surroundings when you have something like that going on. Knowing who's coming in. Especially around an institution like this, you have to check and see who's there. You look and see who's in the cars. And things like that.”

Allen also credits air surveillance coupled with infrared technology for the quick capture. He says two troopers made the arrest, and that units from Wapakoneta, Findlay and Van Wert were also called into the manhunt. To his knowledge, no one was injured during the arrest around 1:20 a.m. Friday.

T.J. Lane had been disciplined seven times before his escape, which is reportedly his third attempt. An Ohio Correctional Institution Inspection Committee report in April showed the prison was 15 percent over capacity. Chardon Schools are NOT in session today, but the high school and middle school will be open for counseling.

“It’s a horrible situation," says Lane's former attorney, Ian Friedman. "It’s just unthinkable that someone can walk out of a prison... and that the Allen Correction Facility allowed this to happen."