A 17-year-old Shaker Heights High School student was shot and killed on Monday in Cleveland, and the Shaker Heights City School District has canceled classes at its high school and middle school for Tuesday. Cleveland police confirmed that a 17-year-old boy was found with a gunshot wound outside an apartment complex on South Moreland Boulevard, in the city’s Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood, and that he died from his injuries despite the efforts of officers at the scene.
Superintendent David Glasner told district families about the student’s death in a message sent Monday evening. Glasner did not identify the student by name and gave no additional details about what the district called an act of violence. He said he was deeply saddened by the loss to the school community, asked families to keep the student’s family in their thoughts, and asked that the family’s privacy be respected during this difficult time.
All classes are canceled Tuesday, October 27, at Shaker Heights High School and Shaker Heights Middle School. Students in career and technical education programs will also not be required to report to their off-campus locations on Tuesday. All other Shaker Heights district buildings will remain open as normal, according to the district’s message.
Counselors will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday at both the high school and the middle school for students and staff who need support. Glasner said the district is cooperating fully with law enforcement in the investigation and will continue to provide updates as appropriate, sharing further details as soon as possible while respecting the privacy of those involved.
Cleveland police have not named any possible suspects in the shooting, and no arrest or motive had been announced as of early Tuesday. Police have not released a specific time for the shooting or the name of the apartment complex where the teen was found, and the student’s name has not been released. The investigation remains ongoing.
The death makes for a somber Tuesday across the Shaker Heights school community, where the normal school day will instead be given over to grief support at the two closed buildings. District officials said they understand the community’s need for information and will share what they can as the police investigation continues and more is confirmed.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Cleveland police. NewsForce247 will update this story as police and the district release additional confirmed details.
Photo: Spencer, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons