Convicted school shooter Thomas “T.J.” Lane, 19, was apprehended and returned to the Allen Correctional Facility in Lima, Ohio in the early morning hours on Friday. The convicted killer was taken into custody at approximately 1:20 a.m.
Lane had escaped from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction facility, sparking a massive manhunt.
Lane was sentenced to three life sentences for killing three students at Chardon High School in 2012. Lane escaped alongside another inmate at around 7:30 p.m on Thursday night.
Students from the school district where the young killer went on a rampage were offered counseling on a Friday.
On February 27, 2012, Lane opened fire, killing Demetrius Hewlin, 16; Russell King Jr., 17; and Daniel Parmertor, 16. He also wounded three other students, while paralyzing one of his victims.
Following Thomas Lane’s escape, Chardon Local Schools Superintendent Michael P. Hanlon, Jr, released the following statement:
“Our thoughts and prayers today go out to the families of Demetrius, Russell and Danny and all others affected by the tragedy as well as by the troubling events from Thursday evening.”
Lane was considered a dangerous escapee who showed no remorse for his school shooting. During his sentencing Lane revealed a white T-shirt with the word “KILLER” written across its front. Lane then began swearing at the judge and others in the courtroom.
Police warn that the second escaped inmate, Clifford Opperud, 45, is still on the loose. Opperud is serving a 12-year sentence for aggravated robbery, burglary and kidnapping.
Officials are using helicopters and infrared equipment to hunt down Clifford.
A third inmate also escaped but was comprehended only a short time after breaking out of the Ohio jail.
Prisons officials have not gone into detail about how the men managed to escape from the closely guarded facility.