THIS IS WHAT YOU TRAIN FOR.
THIS IS WHAT YOU EXPECT NEVER TO HAPPEN
AND HOPE NEVER HAPPENS.
THE CARNAGE THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH,
YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY AFFECTED
BUT THAT'S THE BUSINESS YOU SIGN UP FOR.
I WAS A POLICEMAN FOR 37 YEARS
AND GOD BLESS THE MAN THAT INVENTED THAT JOB.
I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY.
IF SOMETHING ELSE HAD GONE DIFFERENT.
MY LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN OVER 20 YEARS AGO.
THIS ISN'T THE YOUNG MAN THAT WE GREW UP WITH
AND CALLED A CLASSMATE.
WHO'S CAPABLE OF THAT, YOU KNOW?
THAT'S HARD.
I'M GLAD TO HAVE HEARD IT
BUT I COULD DO WITHOUT HEARING IT AGAIN.
WHY DID I STEP INTO THE ROOM?
IT'S SIMPLE.
IT WAS ME FOR THE STUDENTS AND TEACHER.
I WAS MAKING A TRADE.
IT WAS GONNA BE ME OR NOBODY.
IF I HAD TO DIE, THAT'S FINE.
I WASN'T GONNA LET HIM HURT STUDENTS.
IT'S A PRETTY TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY.
VERY SMALL TOWN.
MY CLASSMATES AT SCHOOL, WE GREW UP TOGETHER.
WE'D KNOWN EACH OTHER SINCE WE WERE VERY SMALL CHILDREN.
THIS IS OUR JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL
AND FROM WHAT I RECALL,
THE SCHOOL YEAR IS KIND OF WRAPPING UP
AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
THAT MORNING, I DON'T RECALL ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
IT'S A VERY NORMAL DAY
IN THE LIFE OF AN ADOLESCENT ATTENDING SCHOOL.
EVERYBODY, TURN TO PAGE 52.
OUR FIRST PERIOD CLASS IS TAUGHT MY MS. KANABROSKI.
IT WAS AN ADVANCED MATH COURSE.
THE FIRST REAL INDICATION OF A PROBLEM
DIDN'T OCCUR UNTIL, YOU KNOW, CLAY APPROACHED THE DOOR
AND HE CAME INTO THE CLASSROOM SEVERAL MINUTES LATE.
HE WAS OBVIOUSLY IN DURESS AND DIDN'T LOOK QUITE HIMSELF.
HE WAS VERY WHITE IN APPEARANCE,
ALMOST LIKE THE BLOOD HAD SHOT OUT OF HIS FACE.
VERY, YOU KNOW, WHITE... WHITE AS A GHOST
AND HAD A VERY DISTRAUGHT LOOK ON HIS FACE.
I REMEMBER CLAY DRAWING A SMALL PISTOL FROM HIS POCKET...
...MAKING IT VISIBLE TO EVERYONE WITH A BRIEF WAVE
THAT HE HAD A FIREARM,
AND JUST SAID, "I'M HAVING A VERY BAD DAY."
YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP.
THERE WAS DEFINITELY A PAUSE IN BREATHING,
A RECOGNITION THAT THINGS WERE NOT RIGHT ACROSS THE ROOM.
I CAN REMEMBER IT BEING EERILY SILENT,
BUT NOT REMOVING MY FOCUS FROM,
THIS IS CLAY AND HE'S GOT A GUN.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO PROCESS, "WHY IS HE IN HERE?"
AND "WHY DOES HE HAVE THIS?"
I CAN REMEMBER THE ADRENALINE KICKING IN.
YOUR HEART PICKS UP A PACE.
I CAN REMEMBER THE COLD SWEAT FEELING,
THE PANICKED FEELING OF, "THIS IS REAL."
I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYTHING CAN PREPARE YOU
FOR THAT LEVEL OF HOPELESSNESS OR PANIC
OR THAT YOUR BODY OR MIND HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROCESS THAT.
IT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SITUATION
THAN YOU'VE EVER BEEN PUT IN BEFORE IN YOUR LIFE
AND GOD WILLING, WOULD EVER BE PUT INTO AGAIN.
CLAY, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
MS. KANABROSKI VERY CALMLY ENGAGED CLAY DIRECTLY.
AND SAID, "CLAY, WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?"
ARE YOU IN TROUBLE? DO YOU NEED MONEY?
DO YOU NEED A CAR? WHAT'S GOING ON?
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
"THERE'S MONEY IN MY PURSE, TAKE IT."
I CAN REMEMBER CLAY VERY SPECIFICALLY GOING
"IT'S NOT ABOUT MONEY, IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT.
I'M JUST HAVING A BAD DAY."
AND CLAY APPROACHED THE TEACHER'S DESK AND SAT DOWN.
MS. KANABROSKI ENGAGED HIM AGAIN
AND SAID, "WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO THEN?"
CLAY INSTRUCTED HER, "JUST PRETEND LIKE I'M NOT HERE.
GO ON WITH CLASS.
PRETEND LIKE EVERYTHING'S NORMAL."
IN MAY OF 1994, I WAS JUST COMPLETING.
MY FIRST YEAR EVER AS A VICE PRINCIPAL.
I'M IN MY OFFICE AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00 A.M.
I OPEN UP MY BIBLE TO WHAT I WAS GOING TO READ.
MY GOD IS MY ROCK IN WHOM I TAKE REFUGE.
DID MY PRAYER.
IT'S ALWAYS FIRST RAISING THE LORD UP
AS THE MAJESTY FOR HIM
AND THAT HE IS MY GUIDE AND HE IS MY SAVIOR.
AND THEN WHAT I DO AT THAT POINT
IS, "KEEP ME SAFE, KEEP ME SAFE."
AND, "LORD, BLESS THESE PEOPLE."
BLESS THE STUDENTS THAT I SEE.
BLESS MY FAMILY.
BRING ME BACK SAFE TO THEM.
"THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU GIVE ME EACH AND EVERY DAY."
IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE AFTER 8:00, 8:10 MAYBE,
WHEN THE FEMALE STUDENT ENTERS MY OFFICE.
AND THEN SHE TELLS ME THAT SHE WENT TO MS. KANABROSKI'S ROOM
TO GET HER SIGNATURE FOR A PERMISSION SLIP
AND THAT MS. KANABROSKI INFORMED HER
THAT HER CLASS WAS BEING HELD HOSTAGE.
AND OF COURSE, I ASK HER TO REPEAT THAT
'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
YOU DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT THE FIRST TIME.
MAYBE I MISHEARD WHAT SHE SAID.
SHE SAID, "CLAY SHROUT IS HOLDING THE CLASS HOSTAGE."
SHE ACTUALLY NAMED HIM.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE MY EARS.
WHY WOULD CLAY DO THIS?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
FIRST THING I DID WAS CALL THE FRONT OFFICE,
TOLD THE SECRETARY TO CALL 9-1-1,
WE'VE GOT A HOSTAGE SITUATION.
RIGHT AWAY.
AND THEN AT THAT POINT,
IT WAS SNAPPING INTO WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
ON MAY 26, 1994, I HAD PREPARED MYSELF FOR WORK.
MY WIFE HAD PREPARED A POT OF MACARONI AND CHEESE
THAT I WAS GETTING READY TO TAKE TO MY CHURCH.
I WAS SITTING AT THE RED LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION
IN BOONE COUNTY WHEN I GOT THE CALL.
THE DISPATCHER ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WAS A KID
WITH A GUN AT RYLE HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M ON MY WAY.
I IMMEDIATELY TURNED RIGHT AND HEADED TOWARDS THE SCHOOL.
A LOT OF THINGS GO THROUGH YOUR MIND
WHEN YOU GET THAT KIND OF A CALL.
IT'S NOT AN ORDINARY THING.
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
THAT'S THE ONLY TIME IN MY CAREER OF 37 YEARS
THAT I HAVE EVER HEARD THOSE PARTICULAR WORDS USED
IN BOONE COUNTY, KENTUCKY.
I HAVE NO IDEA AT THAT POINT
WHETHER WE HAVE ANY INJURIES,
WHETHER THE SCHOOL'S AT HOSTAGE,
WHETHER IT'S JUST SOMEBODY THAT CAME TO SCHOOL
THAT DAY WITH A GUN AND THEY CALLED JUST TO REPORT IT.
AT THAT TIME IN HISTORY,
WE HADN'T HAD A LOT OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS,
SO THE LAST THING ON MY MIND
WAS THAT THERE WERE GONNA BE KIDS SHOT.
WHAT IS A KID DOING WITH A GUN AT SCHOOL?
WHAT YOU DO IS YOU GET YOUR GAME FACE ON
AND YOU START TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO WHEN WE GET THERE.
YOU GOT A BRIGHT-FACED, HAPPY KID.
CLAY AND I WERE CLASSMATES FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
HE WAS PRETTY SOFT SPOKEN AND RESERVED
AND SOMEWHAT DARK HUMORED AT TIMES.
CLAY COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING HE WANTED TO.
HE HAD THE APTITUDE AND THE ABILITY
AND A SUPPORTING FAMILY THAT WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED HIM
CHASING WHATEVER HE WANTED TO CHASE.
ANYTHING HE WANTED TO DO WAS HIS TO DO.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO ASSOCIATE
THAT ANYONE IS CAPABLE OF WHAT HE DID.
IT'S PART OF THE THING THAT MAKES IT EVEN TODAY SO SURREAL
IS JUST THIS NORMAL KID, NORMAL FAMILY,
AND SOMETHING JUST SNAPPED.
THERE WERE SOME STUDENTS CRYING IN THE ROOM.
THE OVERWHELMING REALITY OF, "I KNOW I'M IN TROUBLE."
I KNOW THAT I'M OUT OF CONTROL.
I KNOW THAT I WANT TO GET AWAY,
AND YET I KNOW I CAN'T DO ANYTHING
BECAUSE THERE'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING COMPELLING ENOUGH HERE
"TO TELL ME THAT I CAN'T TAKE THAT RISK."
IN THE MIDST OF THIS,
A FEMALE CLASSMATE OF MINE ROSE FROM HER SEAT...
AND APPROACHED THE DESK CALMLY,
VERY COOLLY, VERY COLLECTED.
NOT ANXIOUS, NOT ANTAGONIZING.
AND SORT OF KNEELED DOWN
AND HUNKERED OVER AT THE TEACHER'S DESK.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS PURE ADRENALINE KICKING IN
OR AN ACT OF EMPATHY OR PURELY OF COURAGE AND SELFLESSNESS
BUT SHE SAID, "CLAY, WHAT'S WRONG?
WHAT'S GOING ON?"
I KNOW YOU'RE HAVING A BAD DAY, BUT...
TRYING TO COMPREHEND, TRYING TO APPEAL TO HIM.
I CAN REMEMBER OTHER STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM
GAINING THEIR BEARINGS MOMENTARILY
AND CALLING HER NAME.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING? SIT DOWN."
I CAN REMEMBER MS. KANABROSKI VERY CALMLY
SEIZING CONTROL OF THE SITUATION.
I THINK YOU NEED TO GO SIT BACK DOWN.
DRAWING FOCUS TO HER.
THIS IS GOING TO BE ON YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT, SO.
SHE BEGINS WORKING THROUGH THE PROBLEMS.
THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IN MATH CLASS
AND I CAN REMEMBER THE CLASSMATE
SITTING BACK DOWN AT HER SEAT AFTER THAT POINT
AND NOT INTERACTING AGAIN.
I WAS ONLY FOCUSING ON MY CLOSEST FRIEND IN THE ROOM,
CHECKING ON HIM AS KIND OF A REALITY CHECK FOR MYSELF.
"IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING?
IS THIS REALLY GOING ON?"
THE SENSE OF TIME WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS OCCURS
IS VERY SURREAL.
WHEN I RECOLLECT THIS EVENT,
THIS ISN'T AN EVENT THAT TOOK 20 MINUTES OR 22 MINUTES.
THIS FEELS LIKE HOURS.
THIS FEELS LIKE SOMETHING
THAT STRETCHED OUT OVER THE COURSE OF A DAY.
AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE FEMALE STUDENT,
I CALLED THE MAIN OFFICE
TO HAVE THEM INITIATE OUR LOCKDOWN PROCEDURE.
THEN I CALLED MS. KANABROSKI'S ROOM.
HELLO?
I SAID, "MS. KANABROSKI, THIS IS MR. SORRELL.
JUST ANSWER EVERYTHING I ASK YOU.
ANSWER YES OR NO."
OKAY.
I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT YOU HAVE A STUDENT
HOLDING A CLASS HOSTAGE.
IS THAT TRUE? YES.
I SAID, "THE STUDENT TELLS ME IT'S CLAY.
IS IT CLAY?"
YES, IT IS.
OKAY. I SAID, "WE'VE ALREADY CONTACTED THE POLICE.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'LL BE HERE.
I'M GOING TO COME DOWN TO YOUR ROOM."
THANK YOU.
I HANG UP AND IMMEDIATELY STAND UP
AND START MOVING DOWN THE HALLWAY.
AND THAT'S WHEN I HEARD THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
DR. TED WETEKAMP, PLEASE COME TO THE MAIN OFFICE.
IN MY HEAD, I'M SAYING "YES, THAT'S ONE STEP DONE."
NOW, I NEED TO MOVE ON.
DR. TED WETEKAMP, PLEASE COME TO THE MAIN OFFICE.
"DR. TED WETEKAMP, PLEASE COME TO THE MAIN OFFICE."
AND THEN IT REPEATED,
"DR. TED WETEKAMP, PLEASE COME TO THE MAIN OFFICE."
THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE IN THE CLASSROOM
THAT UNDERSTOOD WHAT THAT MEANT.
IT WAS CLAY, MYSELF, AND MS. KANABROSKI.
WE HAD RELATIVELY UNRESTRICTED ACCESS
OF NAVIGATING THROUGH THE VARIOUS SCHOOL SYSTEMS.
WHAT IS THAT?
AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE UNCOVERED
WAS A MESSAGE THAT SAYS IF THERE'S EVER
A MAJOR SCHOOL EVENT
THAT THEY'RE GONNA CALL THE SUPERINTENDENT TO THE OFFICE.
DR. TED WETEKAMP, PLEASE COME TO THE MAIN OFFICE.
DR. WETEKAMP WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT.
OF SCHOOLS AT THAT TIME.
LIKE MYSELF, CLAY WAS AWARE OF WHAT THAT MEANT.
AND IN THAT MOMENT, IT'S KIND OF A HEART SINK FEELING.
HE KNEW HE HAD BEEN RATTED OUT.
DR. TED WETEKAMP, PLEASE COME TO THE MAIN OFFICE.
HE HAD NOTHING TO LOSE AT THAT POINT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS PICTURE,
YOU CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WENT ON.
THE MATH JUST DOESN'T ADD UP.
YOU LOOK AT THIS AND YOU THINK, "WOW, THIS IS MIDDLE AMERICA.
THIS IS A GOOD FAMILY.
WELL KEPT LAWN, WELL KEPT HOUSE.
PROBABLY AN AFFLUENT FAMILY."
AND THEN YOU GET INSIDE AND SEE THE DEVASTATION
AND HORROR THAT TOOK PLACE.
AT 8:46 THIS MORNING, BOONE COUNTY POLICE RECEIVED A CALL.
OF A JUVENILE WAIVING A GUN IN A CLASSROOM.
OTHER STUDENTS WERE PRESENT IN THAT CLASS.
I WAS ASKED IN MY INTERVIEW FOR VICE PRINCIPAL.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN A HOSTAGE SITUATION?
AND I RESPONDED BACK, "I WOULD GO TO THAT ROOM"
AND TRY TO TAKE CARE OF THAT WHICHEVER WAY I HAD TO.
IF I NEEDED TO GO IN AND TAKE THEIR PLACE, I WOULD DO IT.
I WOULD DO WHATEVER WAS NECESSARY
"TO KEEP ANY VIOLENCE FROM OCCURRING."
IT GOES BACK TO MY FAITH.
THERE'S NO GREATER THING THAT YOU CAN DO
BUT TO GIVE YOUR LIFE FOR ANOTHER.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN BEING A CHRISTIAN.
FOR ME, IF I SACRIFICE MYSELF TO SAVE OTHERS,
THEN THAT'S A GOOD THING.
YES, MY WIFE WOULD NOT BE HAPPY.
SHE WOULD BE VERY SAD.
BUT AT THE SAME POINT, SHE WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT
BECAUSE SHE LIVES BY THE SAME FAITH I LIVE BY.
I FOCUS ON WHAT I NEEDED TO DO.
I LEFT MY OFFICE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO RUN
BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO UPSET ANYBODY ELSE IN THE BUILDING,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
I WANTED TO GET THERE AS FAST AS I COULD.
I JUST WAS HOPING I DIDN'T HEAR GUNSHOTS BEFORE I GOT THERE.
I CAN SEE WHERE HE'S SITTING AT THE TEACHER'S DESK
AND I'M THINKING ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO ME,
HOW I MAY NOT WALK OUT OF THAT ROOM.
THE THOUGHT WAS, "MY FAMILY IS EVERYTHING.
I DON'T DO THIS TO HURT YOU.
I HOPE YOU CAN BE PROUD OF ME LATER.
I LOVE YOU."
HERE'S MY THOUGHT...
I'M COMING IN, I'M GOING TOWARDS HIM,
AND IF HE STANDS UP AND GETS READY TO SHOOT ME,
I'M GONNA GRAB HIM AND PULL IT IN MY STOMACH
AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL STOP IT.
AND IF HE SHOOTS ME,
I'M GONNA COLLAPSE RIGHT ON TOP OF HIM
AND I'M BIGGER THAN HE IS.
HE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
SO I EXPECTED HIM TO SHOOT ME.
I HONESTLY BELIEVED HE WOULD SHOOT ME.
MR. SORRELL ENTERED THE ROOM.
AND INSERTED HIMSELF BETWEEN CLAY AND THE DOOR
AND MADE SURE THAT HE WAS SHIELDING
AS MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS AS HE COULD.
ALL RIGHT. EVERYBODY OUT NOW!
I START WAIVING THE KIDS OUT.
I SAID, "THEY'RE LEAVING."
THEY ACTUALLY WERE TRYING TO TELL ME
TO STAY OUT OF THE ROOM TO PROTECT ME
BUT WHEN I SAID OUT, MS. KANABROSKI GOT THEM OUT.
WE EXITED THAT ROOM AS QUICKLY AS OUR FEET WOULD ALLOW US,
YOU KNOW, UNDER GREAT DURESS WITH ADRENALINE KICKING IN,
WITH PANIC SETTLING IN.
ONCE IT KIND OF HIT
THAT YOU'RE OUT OF THIS STRESSFUL SITUATION,
THERE'S JUST A MASSIVE RELEASE AT THAT POINT.
IT'S KIND OF YOUR LAST MEMORY WALKING AWAY FROM THAT
IS THAT MR. SORRELL'S IN THERE.
IS SOMETHING GOING TO HAPPEN TO HIM?
WHAT'S GOING TO COME OF THIS SITUATION?
IT WAS JUST CLAY AND I AT THAT POINT.
I WAS STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO THE TEACHER'S DESK
AND WHAT I DID,
I LOOKED AT HIM AND I ASKED HIM THE QUESTION
"WHAT'S GOING ON?"
I JUST WANT TO TALK.
HE TOLD ME HE'D HAD A BAD DAY.
AND I SAID, "OKAY, SO YOU HAVE A GUN.
WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO?"
AND HE WAS SITTING THERE KIND OF PLAYING WITH THE GUN.
AND I SAID, "YOU REALIZE IT'S JUST YOU AND I NOW.
YOU REALIZE THIS, RIGHT?
YOU KNOW I'VE CALLED THE POLICE ALREADY, DON'T YOU?"
YES.
I SAYS, "NOW, IF I'VE CALLED THE POLICE,
YOU KNOW THEY'RE COMING.
THERE ARE ONLY A FEW THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN HERE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN BE."
LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS, CLAY.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?
YOU CAN GIVE ME THE GUN, WE CAN WALK OUT OF HERE.
YOU CAN SHOOT ME AND THEN WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN
IS THE POLICE WILL PROBABLY SHOOT YOU.
YOU CAN NOT SHOOT ME BUT STILL HAVE THE GUN IN YOUR HAND
AND THE POLICE MAY SHOOT YOU STILL.
I SAID, "THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE GONNA GET OUT OF HERE
AND GET OUT OF THIS BUILDING,
BUT IT'S YOUR CHOICE. WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?"
AND HE HESITATED, AND WHILE HE HESITATED,
I IMMEDIATELY REACHED DOWN INTO HIS LAP
AND PUT MY HAND ON THE GUN.
AS I GRABBED IT AND STARTED PULLING AWAY,
HE DID RELEASE THE GUN IN MY HAND.
THAT WAS SUCH A GREAT RELIEF.
I AM IN CONTROL.
SOMETHING'S HAPPENING POSITIVE HERE.
WE'RE GONNA MAYBE HAVE A POSITIVE OUTCOME.
WHEN I TURNED AROUND,
A POLICE OFFICER WAS STANDING AT THE DOOR.
THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT THIS WAS NOT ME.
I HAD A PROTECTOR.
I HAD THE LORD WITH ME.
I THINK BECAUSE I HAD PRAYED
AND I HAD READ MY BIBLE THAT MORNING,
HE WAS VERY PRESENT, VERY READY,
AND IT'S ALMOST A SENSE OF PEACE.
PEACE SURPASSES UNDERSTANDING.
MOST OFFICERS TRAIN THEIR WHOLE LIFE.
FOR THIS KIND OF EVENT,
AND THE HOPE IS THAT YOU NEVER HAVE TO USE IT.
AS I ARRIVE IN THE SCHOOL,
I FIND THAT MR. SORRELL HAD ALREADY DISARMED CLAY SHROUT.
SO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
GOT HIM IN CUSTODY RIGHT NOW.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO QUESTION HIM?
YEAH, LET'S GO DO THAT.
OKAY, RIGHT THIS WAY.
AND THIS WAS JUST ONLY MINUTES AFTER THE CALL CAME OUT.
YOU KNOW, MR. SORRELL DID A FANTASTIC JOB
OF DISARMING THAT SITUATION.
CLAY WAS SITTING AT THE DESK
AND THE FIRST THING I SAID TO HIM, "WHAT'S GOING ON?"
SO WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED?
AND HIS RESPONSE WAS "I'VE HAD A BAD DAY TODAY."
I SAID, "OH REALLY?"
HE SAID, "I'VE KILLED MY WHOLE FAMILY."
THEY'RE DEAD, ALL OF THEM.
MY IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WAS DISBELIEF.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT HE'S ACTUALLY KILLED
HIS WHOLE FAMILY?
THEY'RE ALL DEAD?
YES.
IT WAS ALMOST A MATTER OF FACT
"I HAVE KILLED MY WHOLE FAMILY."
CLAY SHROUT WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL KID GROWING UP.
HE HAD A 161 I.Q.
HE HAD NATIONAL MATH HONORS.
HE WAS A GOOD STUDENT UP TO THIS POINT.
THE FATHER WAS AN ELDER AT THE FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
HE WAS A CEO OF A PAPER COMPANY.
HE WAS WEALTHY, VERY CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE GIRLS WERE HEAVY INTO EQUESTRIAN THINGS.
THEY LIKED HORSES AND HORSE SHOWS.
IT WAS A VERY GOOD AMERICAN FAMILY.
WE SEE HIM WITH A BAG FULL OF AMMO AND A FIREARM.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT HE'S ACTUALLY KILLED
HIS WHOLE FAMILY?
AS I WALK THROUGH THE DOOR OF THE SHROUT RESIDENCE,
THE FIRST THING THAT IMPRESSES YOU
IS THE HOUSE IS JUST PRISTINE.
EXTREMELY CLEAN, VERY NICE FURNITURE,
PICTURES OF THE KIDS ON THE WALLS.
AND WHEN I SAW THEM,
I REALIZED THAT MY DAUGHTER HAD ACTUALLY PLAYED WITH THEM.
AND THEN YOU GO UP THE STEPS INTO THE MASTER BEDROOM,
AND EVERYTHING THAT CLAY HAD TOLD US BECAME TRUE.
IT WAS NOW NOT SOME JUST KID JUST PLAYING AROUND.
THIS WAS A MURDER SCENE.
WE FIND MRS. SHROUT LAYING IN THE BED,
SHOT BETWEEN THE EYES.
MR. SHROUT IS LAYING ON THE FLOOR.
HIS SIDE OF THE BED'S PRETTY DISHEVELED.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY THAT HE HAD BEEN SHOT THERE
AND THEN FALLEN AND BEEN SHOT A COUPLE MORE TIMES.
IT'S HORRIFIC.
IT'S DEVASTATING.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE
WILL NEVER SEE IN THEIR LIFETIME.
I THEN WENT DOWN THE HALLWAY,
LOOKED AT THE OLDEST SISTER'S ROOM
AND FOUND HER IN HER BED WHERE SHE HAD BEEN SHOT.
SHE HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE UPPER CHEST.
IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT SHE DIED RIGHT AWAY RIGHT IN HER BED.
AND THEN WENT INTO THE MIDDLE BEDROOM
WHERE THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WAS,
AND SHE HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE TOP OF THE HEAD
AND DIED IN HER BED.
I MEAN, YOU CAN IMAGINE THE HORRIFIC SCENE
OF FOUR BODIES, ESPECIALLY THE GIRLS.
AND THOSE ARE THE ONES
THAT WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES AT NIGHT,
YOU STILL SEE THE GIRLS.
A CASE LIKE THIS IS JUST SUCH A HUGE DEVASTATION
WHERE A WHOLE FAMILY
IS WIPED OUT FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
THIS KID HAD JUST KILLED HIS WHOLE FAMILY,
BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO AFFECT HIM EMOTIONALLY.
HE DIDN'T WHIMPER, HE DIDN'T CRY.
HE JUST TOLD US, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.
I BELIEVE THE KIND OF PERSON THAT DOES THIS
IS A ANTI-SOCIAL PERSONALITY,
IS A PSYCHOPATH, AND IS EVIL.
CLAY TOLD US THAT HE HAD COLLECTED THINGS
LIKE DEATH STARS, THE NUNCHUCKS,
THOSE KIND OF ITEMS.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
TAKIN' THIS AWAY FROM YOU.
AND HIS FATHER BASICALLY TOOK ALL THOSE THINGS
AWAY FROM HIM IN ORDER TO DISCIPLINE HIM.
CLAY TOOK EXCEPTION TO THAT.
IT'S MY STUFF!
- IT DOESN'T... - I DON'T TAKE YOUR STUFF!
JUST WATCH ME.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHY HE KILLED HIS MOM AND DAD.
HOW CAN ANYONE KILL THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY
OVER A PAIR OF NUNCHUCKS?
AND I SAID, "WELL, WHY DID YOU KILL YOUR SISTERS?"
HE SAID, "WELL, I DIDN'T WANT THEM
GROWING UP WITHOUT PARENTS."
CRAZY LOGIC.
WE HAVE TO HAVE AN ASSEMBLY WITH OUR STUDENTS
BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR THE DAY.
THEY NEEDED TO BE TOLD WHAT WAS GOING ON.
OF COURSE, IT WAS A BUZZ.
THEY KNEW SOMETHING.
THE HEAD PRINCIPAL GOT UP ON STAGE.
CAN I HAVE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION, PLEASE?
HE SAID, "WE HAD AN INCIDENT HERE TODAY."
WE HAD A STUDENT THAT HELD A CLASS HOSTAGE.
EVERYBODY IN THAT CLASS IS FINE. HE'S BEEN ARRESTED.
UNFORTUNATELY, HIS FAMILY HAS BEEN KILLED BY HIM.
"AND I WANT YOU TO MOURN FOR THEM."
BY NOW WE ALREADY HAVE THE TEARS AND THE GASP OF DESPAIR.
"BUT YOU NEED TO TELL YOUR PARENTS,
YOU NEED TO TALK WITH THEM,
YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT YOUR PARENTS LOVE YOU,
YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT WE LOVE YOU,
"YOU NEED TO KNOW WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU."
AND THAT'S THE KIND OF MESSAGE WE GOT OUT...
"YOU ARE CARED ABOUT HERE, YOU'RE CARED ABOUT AT HOME,
YOU NEED TO OPEN UP AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU TRUST."
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE WERE HEARING.
WHAT HAD ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
I CAN REMEMBER COMFORTING ONE ANOTHER
AND TRYING TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE REALITY OF IT
AND TRYING TO COPE WITH ALL OF THIS
AND RATIONALIZE THIS ENTIRE THING
THAT THERE'S JUST NO WAY TO DEFINE.
THERE IS NO RATIONALE TO ANYONE DOING WHAT HE DID.
IT'S SOMEWHAT HAUNTING TO HEAR HIS VOICE RECOUNTING THAT,
AS IT WAS 25 YEARS AGO.
THE INFLICTION OF HIS VOICE,
THE ABSOLUTION OF, "YEAH, I DID THIS."
VERY NONCHALANTLY, "YES, I SHOT HIM, I SHOT HIM IN THE HEAD",
"I WENT BACK, I SHOT HIM AGAIN," ALMOST DEFIANTLY.
THIS IS ISN'T THE YOUNG MAN THAT WE GREW UP WITH
AND CALLED A CLASSMATE.
WHO'S CAPABLE OF THAT, YOU KNOW.
THAT'S HARD.
I'M GLAD TO HAVE HEARD IT,
BUT I COULD DO WITHOUT HEARING IT AGAIN.
WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT CLAY BEFORE THIS INCIDENT,
CLAY WAS A GOOD STUDENT,
WITHDRAWN, YES, HE NEEDED TO OPEN UP,
BUT HE DID HAVE FRIENDS.
BUT HE WAS GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL,
HE WAS GONNA DO SOMETHING THAT HE COULD BE PROUD OF
AND HE DID THIS.
IT CHANGED THE WAY I THOUGHT ABOUT HIM.
WE TEACH TO MAKE PEOPLE SUCCEED, AND HE'S OUR FAILURE.
AND YEAH, IT BOTHERS US THAT WE HAVE A FAILURE THAT BIG.
CLAY SHROUT IS DESCRIBED AS BRILLIANT,
YET TROUBLED, ALWAYS CLASHING WITH HIS FATHER,
43-YEAR-OLD WALTER SHROUT.
HE WAS GETTIN' REALLY STRESSED OUT
AND THEY WERE GETTIN' ON HIS NERVES.
THEY WOULDN'T LET HIM GO CERTAIN PLACES,
THEY TOOK HIS TRUCK AWAY,
AND THEY JUST WOULDN'T LET HIM GO ANYWHERE OR DO ANYTHING.
HE WAS BORED, HE JUST... HE WANTED TO GET OUT.
HOW CAN SOMEBODY DO THAT TO SOMEBODY ELSE?
ESPECIALLY SOMEBODY YOU THINK THEY LOVE?
YOUR FAMILY.
AND CERTAINLY THE TWO YOUNG GIRLS DIDN'T DESERVE IT.
THAT'S NOT SAYING THAT THE PARENTS DID,
BUT I'M SAYING, YOU KNOW, THE YOUNG GIRLS
DEFINITELY INNOCENT YOUNG THINGS,
THEY DIDN'T DESERVE THAT AT ALL.
NEITHER DID THE FAMILY.
WHY, WHY?
THE FUNERAL WAS A DEVASTATING SIGHT.
YOU SEE CASKETS,
BUT YOU SEE TWO SMALLER CASKETS NEXT TO 'EM.
IT'S JUST HEART WRENCHING.
THIS FAMILY WAS A POPULAR FAMILY.
THEY WERE WELL KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY.
THERE WAS A LOT OF GRIEF,
THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE DEVASTATED.
THE COMMUNITY AROUND RYLE HIGH SCHOOL
AND REALLY THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF BOONE COUNTY,
VERY, VERY MUCH CAME TOGETHER IN RESPONSE TO THIS.
THESE GIRLS WERE THE SAME AGE AS MY DAUGHTER AT THE TIME
AND THAT REALLY HIT HOME.
AFTER GOING THROUGH WHAT WE HAD ALL JUST GONE THROUGH,
IT WAS JUST A RELIEF TO SEE MY WIFE'S FACE
AND MY DAUGHTER'S FACE WHEN I CAME IN...
DAD!
FIRST THING I WANTED TO DO IS HUG MY DAUGHTER.
I THINK I GRABBED HER...
GRABBED HER UP AND JUST HUGGED HER.
DIDN'T LET HER GO FOR A WHILE.
I MEAN, IT WAS JUST THE REALIZATION
AND WHAT WE HAD JUST WITNESSED
AND WHAT WE HAD JUST GONE THROUGH FINALLY HIT HOME,
AND HOME WAS A GOOD PLACE TO BE.
AS A POLICEMAN, YOU GET TO THE POINT
WHERE YOU'VE HANDLED SO MUCH CRAZINESS IN THE WORLD,
YOU GET TO THINKING, "I DON'T LIKE HUMAN BEINGS MUCH,"
AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER
THAT THERE ARE WONDERFUL HUMAN BEINGS OUT THERE
IN THIS WORLD AND IT HELPS YOU GET THROUGH THE BAD ONES.
WOW.
I HAVEN'T BEEN IN HERE IN A WHILE.
IT'S FAMILIAR, IT'S ODDLY FAMILIAR,
NOT OVERLY FAMILIAR, BUT DISTANTLY FAMILIAR.
THIS ROW RIGHT HERE WOULD'VE BEEN... THIS THEREABOUTS HERE.
I SAT, THEY'RE ARRANGED A LITTLE DIFFERENT,
BUT THIS WAS MY SEAT RIGHT IN HERE.
I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY
IF SOMETHING ELSE HAD GONE DIFFERENT.
I'VE GOT TWO KIDS NOW AND A WIFE
AND MY LIFE COULD'VE BEEN OVER 20 YEARS AGO.
EVERY YEAR, IT KIND OF REFLECTS BACK,
THE GRAVITY OF IT PROBABLY INCREASING
AS YOU APPRECIATE LIFE MORE AND LIVE LIFE
AND EVERYTHING THAT IT'S BROUGHT TO YOU.
IT'S HUMBLING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE
THAT PUT THEIR LIVES AT RISK THAT DAY.
SOMEONE THAT'S WILLING TO MAKE THAT KIND OF SACRIFICE
AND NOT HESITATE TO DO IT,
THAT THERE'S NO WAY TO EXPRESS THAT LEVEL OF APPRECIATION.
I STILL GET EMBARRASSED WHEN PEOPLE CALL ME A HERO.
I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS THAT.
I THINK OF MYSELF AS DOING THE JOB THAT I NEEDED TO DO
AND I THINK ANY PRINCIPAL GIVEN THE SAME SITUATION
WOULD'VE DONE THE SAME THING.
AND I HOPE THAT'S TRUE.
PEOPLE TELL ME IT'S NOT, BUT I HOPE THAT'S TRUE.
WHY DID I STEP INTO THE ROOM?
WHY DID I STEP IN THE ROOM?
IT'S SIMPLE.
IT WAS ME FOR THE STUDENTS AND TEACHER.
I WAS MAKING A TRADE.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE ME THERE AS A SINGLE PERSON
THAN ALL THOSE STUDENTS AND THAT TEACHER.
FOR ME, IT WAS AN ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE.
IF I HAD TO DIE, THAT'S FINE,
BUT IT WAS GONNA BE ME OR NOBODY.
I WASN'T GONNA LET HIM HURT STUDENTS.
PICTURES OF DEAR KRISTIN AND DEAR LAUREN,
BIG SMILES ON THEIR FACES, BEAUTIFUL GIRLS.
AND THEIR LIVES WERE ENDED BY AN EVIL BROTHER.
YOU CAN'T HELP TO THINK WHAT COULD'VE BEEN.
YOU KNOW, WHAT COULD THEY HAVE DONE IN THEIR LIVES?
WHAT GOOD COULD THEY HAVE DONE IN THEIR LIVES?
I CAN CLOSE MY EYES RIGHT NOW AND SEE THEM IN THAT BEDROOM.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THAT HORRIFIC.
BLESS THEIR SWEET HEARTS.
REST IN PEACE.
Captions by VITAC... www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS