2 Northeast Ohio Students Die, School District Says

CANAL FULTON, OH — Two high school students in the Northwest Local School District have died and school officials said counselors will be available at Northwest High School on Saturday to provide support to staff and students.

Dr. Mike Shreffler, superintendent of schools, announced the deaths on the district's website and said their thoughts and prayers go out to the families. The district plans to release a support schedule later.

"Rest assured, our schools will be well staffed with certified and qualified counselors all day Monday and as long as needed after that," Shreffler said.

Shreffler asked the community to give the families space while they grieve and to respect their wishes.

"Please keep in mind that social media is not the place to get accurate information or to spread rumors," he said.

The district did not elaborate on how the students died, but multiple media outlets reported that police officers found a 16-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy in the woods on Friday night. Each reportedly suffered gunshot wounds to their heads. The girl died at the scene and the boy was declared dead at a hospital.

A gun was reportedly found at the scene and investigators suspect it was either a double suicide or murder-suicide, the news outlet reported.

Northwest High School, which has about 600 students according to U.S. News & World Report, is about 40 miles south of Cleveland.

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