Staff report

LOWELLVILLE –The Mahoning County Coroner’s Office on Tuesday revealed that the boy, 13, who shot himself in the Lowellville schools complex cafeteria last Thursday has died.

School resumes this morning after being closed Thursday following the shooting through Tuesday. A number of supportive measures are in place for students.

The coroner’s office stated that Ryan Porter of Youngstown died Friday. The office was notified of the death at 7:24 p.m. Friday. An autopsy will be performed, and the matter remains under investigation, the office reported.

Porter shot himself in the corner of the lunchroom of the K-12 school about 10:15 a.m. while he and his seventh-grade classmates were at lunch. One witness said he fired into the floor, and another witness said he fired into the ceiling before shooting himself. He did not shoot at anyone else, authorities said.

A Lowellville emergency medical technician and a school nurse attended to the boy quickly, said Lowellville police Chief Rick Alli, who said he responded to the cafeteria within 45 seconds of the shooting.

A classmate of Porter said the boy “did not say anything” before he “just went to the corner of the lunchroom and he shot up into the air, and he reloaded and just shot himself.”

Alli has said investigators and others “haven’t determined his mindset” to explain his action Thursday.

SCHOOL CHANGES

As school resumes, a few things have changed, according to a letter to parents.

Students will not enter the school through the cafeteria doors or wait in the cafeteria after arriving at school. Staff will be at the doors to greet students and / or walk with them to their classroom, if necessary.

The school district has established a second cafeteria in the gymnasium, and students in grades 7 to 12 not comfortable eating in the regular cafeteria can eat in the small gymnasium, school officials said.

The cafeteria also will have “grab-and-go” selections for students in the small gym who do not feel comfortable going through the lunch line. Also, the PAWS (Providing Affection, Well Being and Support) therapy team will be set up in both cafeterias for students in grades 5 through 12 to meet and interact with the dogs.

The school also will have an increased police presence, and counselors will be stationed throughout the complex — in classrooms and in the cafeterias to provide support. A therapy dog will visit kindergarten through grade 4 classrooms.

Students with cellphones are encouraged to check in with family members throughout the day with a quick text.

Students also are expected to respect one another’s privacy as the next few days may be emotional for some of their classmates, the letter states.

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