The power for forgiveness is a remarkable thing.
The mother of a teen who was killed during the Chardon High School shooting rampage on Monday says she holds no ill will towards alleged gunman T.J. Lane.
The mother of 16-year-old Demetrius Hewlin, who was killed when one of his classmates opened fire at the Ohio school, says she forgives the gunman who took his life.
TJ Lane admitted stealing a .22-calibre pistol and knife from his grandfather, taking it to Chardon High School and firing 10 shots at a group of students sitting at a cafeteria table on Monday morning.
Hewlin’s mother, Phyllis Ferguson, is speaking out about the terror rampage that left her son dead.
Ferguson told ABC News:
“I taught Demetrius not to live in the past, to live in today and forgiveness is divine. You have to forgive everything. God’s grace is new each and every day. Until you’ve walked in another person’s shoes, you don’t know what made him come to this point.”
Asked what she would say to Lane if she had a chance to speak with him, Ferguson said:
“I would tell him I forgive him because, a lot of times, they don’t know what they’re doing. That’s all I’d say.”
She said her son was often late to school. But unfortunately, he was not running far behind on that fatal morning.
Ferguson, who was joined by Demetrius’ stepfather, Tim Ferguson, said her son was good friends with Russell King Jr, 17, and Daniel Parmertor, 16 – the two other boys killed in the shooting rampage.
The parents went on to say that they are honoring their son’s wishes by having his organs donated.
Suspect T.J. Lane has admitted firing at the students and a judge ordered him to be held for at least the next 15 days. Prosecutors have until March 1st to charge him.
