The investigation into threatening graffiti found written on a boy’s bathroom wall at James A. Garfield High School Wednesday has concluded, according to a joint recorded phone message from District Superintendent Ted Lysiak and Garrettsville Police Chief Tim Christopher to parents on Friday.
“This morning, a student, accompanied by their parents, approached school officials to confess to writing the graffiti on the wall,” Lysiak is quoted in the call transcript. “The individual shared that this was done as a joke to get kids talking. With the help of Garrettsville PD, we have confirmed that the student has no access to weapons and has never had any previous disciplinary infractions. This student has been removed from our campus, and we can assure you that this individual will be disciplined appropriately for this incident.”
Details about the student, including gender, age and grade, were not included in the transcript. Lysiak, who emailed the transcript to the Record-Courier Friday afternoon, said it would be the extent of the district’s comment on the matter.
A phone message left for Christopher was not immediately returned.
According to the transcript, the specific wording of the graffiti was “November 3rd Death Starts.” This had not been previously shared because the situation was still under investigation.
“Our first priority was to ensure that there was no immediate threat to our students or staff,” Lysiak said in the transcript. “There were several rumors stating the graffiti involved a student with previous discipline, a hit list and a shooting at the school. None of which were true.”
Lysiak said it has been a difficult time, but he wanted to “applaud” the police department for quickly determining there was no threat to students or staff, school administrators for leveraging their relationship with students “to help get to the bottom of this quickly,” teachers and staff for using limited information to squelch rumors, and students and families for remaining positive and cooperating with the investigation.
Lysiak said Wednesday that it was students who brought the graffiti to the attention of school administrators, who then quickly called the police.
“The last three days tested the very best of our patience, cooperation and relationships,” Christopher said in the transcript. “The fact is, in less than 48 hours of the graffiti being reported, a positive outcome was reached, and the investigation is closed. There is no doubt that this situation ended in a positive manner because the JAG community is strong, supportive and works together.”
Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.
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