Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale issued the following statement on the shooting at Central High School this morning (August 21, 2008):
"This morning, our community was shattered and our hearts broken. The thoughts and prayers of all Knox Countians are focused on the students, families and staff of Central High School. Our hearts particularly go out to the family and friends of Ryan McDonald, the young victim of the shooting. Violence is never more hateful and shocking than when it invades our schools.
This shooting, coming on the heels of the violence at Tennessee Valley Universalist Unitarian Church, tears at the hearts of all our citizens. As a community, we stand ready to do all we can to prevent this type of tragedy from ever occurring again.”
