SHOOTING AT BUTLER COUNTY SCHOOLSchool shooting victim apologizes to shooter, says he's still a friend | 1:50
Madison High School shooting victim Cooper Caffrey speaks to his shooter, telling him that he wished he would've helped him sooner and that he is still his friend. The Enquirer/Carrie Cochran
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James "Austin" Hancock entered guilty please to four counts of attempted murder in connection with the Madison School shootings in Butler Co. Juvenile Court. The Enquirer/Patrick Reddy
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Hancock is accused of shooting two teens in the cafeteria of Madison Jr./Sr. High School on Monday and faces two counts of attempted murder and other felony charges. The Enquirer/Cara Owsley
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Our number 1 priority is to make our students feel comfortable and safe," says the superintendent of the Butler County school district where Monday's shooting occurred. Students return to school tomorrow. The Enquirer/Cara Owsley
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A 14-year-old male student is accused of shooting two other male teen students in the cafeteria of a Butler County school about 11:15 a.m. Monday. Provided
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A sophomore who said he was a friend of the alleged shooter in a Butler County High School said he was shocked. Jordan Eslick described James Austin Hancock as friendly with everyone. The Enquirer/Carrie Cochran
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Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones announced Monday alleged shooter James Hancock, 14, was charged with two counts each of attempted murder and felonious assault, as well as one count each of inducing panic and making terroristic threats. The Enquirer/Patrick Brennan
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Reaction from a student and other scenes following the shooting at Madison Jr./Sr. High School Monday. The Enquirer/Patrick Brennan
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Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones discusses available information after the shooting at Madison Jr./Sr. High School. The Enquirer/Patrick Brennan
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Anthony Dwyer, Chief Deputy of the Butler County Sheriffs Office, discusses Monday's shooting at Madison High School. The Enquirer/Cara Owsley
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School shooting victim apologizes to shooter, says he's still a friend
Madison school shooter pleads guilty
James Austin Hancock, 14, arraigned in school shooting
Superintendent on Monday's school shooting
Listen to the 911 call from the Madison High School shooting
Witness: Madison shooting suspect 'friendly with everyone'
Charges announced in Madison Jr./Sr. High School shooting
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Butler County Sheriff on Madison Jr./Sr. HS shooting
Official discusses Butler Co. school shooting
Cooper Caffrey, a student at Madison High School, leaves the bench after reading a prepared statement about the day he was shot by James "Austin" Hancock, Feb. 29 in the cafeteria.(Photo: The Enquirer/ Liz Dufour)Buy Photo
MADISON TWP. -Cooper Caffrey was on the cafeteria floor waiting for an ambulance.
The bullet had gone in his stomach and out his back. It just missed the 14-year-olds spine and liver.
A friend texted him to ask if he was OK.
NO was all he could manage.
Cooper couldnt feel his legs. He asked the dean of students if he was going to die. He asked about his brothers.
A short time later, his dad called.
Wheres Austin? Cooper said. Go find him and make sure hes OK.
Austin is the boy who shot him.
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Members of the Butler County Sheriff's Department search Madison Schools after a shooting on Feb. 29, 2016.(Photo: The Enquirer/Cara Owsley)
They knew about the gun. Some had seen it in the bathroom.
Austin Hancock was nervous. Lunch had started about 15 minutes ago. Two students stared at him across the table.
The whispers started, and Austin began shaking. He had a gun in his pocket.
"Oh my God," a girl said.
She jogged to the office, looking back at Austin. He stood up.
He didn't say anything.
He fired at least two rounds at a group of students about 15 feet away from him. He was staring at the exit, and as soon as the second shot rang out, he ran.
At Butler County school, a day of fear
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On June 6, Austin was being sentenced at the Butler County Juvenile Justice Center. Four students had been injured in the school shooting. None had died.
Austins mother cried.
He is not a cold-blooded criminal, she told the judge.
Kristi Blevins hugs her son after his sentencing for the shooting at Madison High School last year.(Photo: The Enquirer/ Liz Dufour)
Before reading Austins sentence, Judge Ronald Craft recalled a time he brought a youth baseball team to Madison Township. He had never been there before.
He doesnt remember how his team did in the tournament, but he remembers Madison.
Its a great community, said Craft. And when this happened, that spirit of America, if you will, was temporarily damaged.
The victims were given a chance to speak. An official read a statement from the grandmother of one student, who would later sue Austin and his family. That student tried to return to school but found it too physically draining.
Then Cooper took the stand.
I forgive you, he told Austin.
I should have done more, he said.
Im sorry."
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Austin Hancock and his wife listen to court proceedings as his son is sentenced for the shooting at Madison High School in 2016.(Photo: The Enquirer/ Liz Dufour)
Sometime before the shooting, Austin argued with his dad about grades.
It was often about grades.
Austin was in danger of failing history. His dad yelled at him, Austin would later tell police, for not caring enough. But Austin said he was trying to do better so he could run track in the spring.
Austin had said he wanted to live with his biological mom.
His parents had split up shortly after he was born, when they were still in high school. His mom had served time in prison on drug charges. Tommy Hancock got full custody of Austin when he was 4.
Kristi Blevins has only attended three of her sons sporting events, Austin told police. But she is doing better now, the boy said, and trying to spend more time with him.
The Madison Mohawk student section cheers their team during a football game against Monroe High School Sept. 2.(Photo: Madison Schmidt for The Enquirer)
Austin loves his dad. He said they were like brothers. But he grew tired of the arguments about grades.
He grew tired of the chores.
He was washing dishes when he snapped.
"I'm gonna hang myself because of you," Austin screamed at his father.
A few months before he brought the gun to school, Austin wrote a suicide note. He flushed it down the toilet.
Some of Austin's relatives teach at Madison. Others attend school there.
They all say they never expected this. His step-mom said she used to practice Austins yearbook smile, because his natural one was too big.
This note was found in Austin Hancock's bookbag after he was arrested for shooting two other students in the Madison Schools cafeteria in 2016.(Photo: Provided/Butler County Sheriff's Office)
But after his arrest, Austin told police he often sat alone at family events.
Two years ago, during a Super Bowl party at his aunt's house, he broke down. He doesn't remember what was said to him, but he remembers crying in front of everyone.
"My family just kind of looks at me weird," he said in an interview with police. "That kind of bothers me."
When Austin brought a gun to school on Feb. 29, 2016, he also brought extra ammunition. He didn't plan on reloading and shooting anyone else.
He brought it for himself.
After the shooting, a sheriff's deputy asked him why he did it.
"So I wouldn't have to go back home," Austin said.
911 calls reveal terrifying aftermath of Ohio school shooting
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Cooper met Austin in school.
Austin was listening to Nirvana on his laptop. Cooper asked him about it and they started talking. The two wrestled together, often spending time between matches listening to music.
He had phenomenal taste in music, Cooper said.
A reference to Nirvana is something Cooper took out of his courtroom speech. He didnt want people to think Austin was a clich a troubled teen who fantasized about death while listening to Kurt Cobain.
He wanted them to see what he saw.
He saw a boy struggling with the split of his parents. He saw a boy who needed help. In many ways, he saw himself.
Coopers parents are divorced. It hasnt been easy for him, and the shooting hasnt helped.
Before Austins sentencing, Coopers dad told him there would be hordes of television cameras and news media there. He was worried for his son.
I want them to be there, Cooper said.
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Marty Caffrey and his son, Cooper, walk together in the Madison Township Park on Sept. 13.(Photo: The Enquirer/Carrie Cochran)
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