Escaped Ohio teen killer serving three life senteces is recaptured

A convicted teen killer serving three life sentences for a school shooting, has been recaptured following a manhunt, a law enforcement official said. T.J. Lane, 19, and fellow inmate Clifford Opperud, 45, had escaped from the Allen Oakwood Correctional Institution in Lima, Ohio on Thursday evening. This sparked a six-hour long manhunt, where police scoured neighborhoods on the north end of Lima, asking residents to lock their doors and stay inside. They also brought in extra officers and provided patrols to the families of Lane’s victims.

We’re upset this happened.

Ron Parmetor, uncle of one of Lane’s victims

On February 27, 2012, Lane walked into the Chardon High School cafeteria with a .22-caliber gun and fired 10 rounds. Three students died, two others were hospitalized and a third injured. Lane pleaded guilty last last year to three counts of aggravated murder, two counts of attempted aggravated murder and weapons-related charges. He was sentenced to consecutive sentences of life without parole and additional sentences totaling 37 years. Lane wore a white T-shirt to his sentencing with “killer” written across the front. Given the opportunity to speak, Lane made an obscene gesture at the victims’ families and spoke to them briefly, using explicit language.

For everyone in that courtroom - the victims, their families, the prosecutors, defense - everyone in that courtroom was just absolutely taken aback.

Lane’s attorney, Ian Friedman

Americas TJ Lane