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Colleen Ritzer killing: Mourning for Massachusetts teacher | Colleen Ritzer killing: Mourning for Massachusetts teacher |
(35 minutes later) | |
A candlelight vigil has been held for a Massachusetts maths teacher allegedly murdered by a 14-year-old student, with mystery surrounding a motive. | A candlelight vigil has been held for a Massachusetts maths teacher allegedly murdered by a 14-year-old student, with mystery surrounding a motive. |
Students and teachers in Danvers town remembered Colleen Ritzer, 24, as a supportive and enthusiastic teacher. | Students and teachers in Danvers town remembered Colleen Ritzer, 24, as a supportive and enthusiastic teacher. |
Phillip Chism, who was charged as an adult on Wednesday, was a new student who was described as quiet. | Phillip Chism, who was charged as an adult on Wednesday, was a new student who was described as quiet. |
Prosecutors say an arrest was made based on statements by the suspect and evidence from school CCTV cameras. | Prosecutors say an arrest was made based on statements by the suspect and evidence from school CCTV cameras. |
Ritzer's body was found in the woods behind the high school, in a suburb of Boston, after she was reported missing late on Tuesday. | |
The teacher had been stabbed with a box cutter, US media reports, citing unnamed law enforcement officials. | |
'Amazing, beautiful daughter' | 'Amazing, beautiful daughter' |
Police have not publicly discussed a cause of death or any possible motive. | Police have not publicly discussed a cause of death or any possible motive. |
Officials said Ritzer and the suspect knew each other from the school, but did not elaborate. | Officials said Ritzer and the suspect knew each other from the school, but did not elaborate. |
On Wednesday evening the Boston Red Sox held a moment of silence for Ritzer before the first game of the World Series, America's professional baseball championship. | On Wednesday evening the Boston Red Sox held a moment of silence for Ritzer before the first game of the World Series, America's professional baseball championship. |
Hundreds of people attended the vigil at the school's car park, wearing pink clothes or bows in tribute to Ritzer's favourite colour. | Hundreds of people attended the vigil at the school's car park, wearing pink clothes or bows in tribute to Ritzer's favourite colour. |
"She supported all of us," Courtney Arnoldy, 18, who was Ritzer's student, said. "We should be there to support her." | "She supported all of us," Courtney Arnoldy, 18, who was Ritzer's student, said. "We should be there to support her." |
Ritzer reportedly lived in her family home with her younger brother and sister. | Ritzer reportedly lived in her family home with her younger brother and sister. |
Her family said they were mourning the death of their "amazing, beautiful daughter and sister". | Her family said they were mourning the death of their "amazing, beautiful daughter and sister". |
"Everyone that knew and loved Colleen knew of her passion for teaching and how she mentored each and every one of her students," the family said in a statement. | "Everyone that knew and loved Colleen knew of her passion for teaching and how she mentored each and every one of her students," the family said in a statement. |
'Opposite of aggressive' | 'Opposite of aggressive' |
Ritzer was said to be friendly towards the school's students, many of whom were not much younger than her. | Ritzer was said to be friendly towards the school's students, many of whom were not much younger than her. |
Her Twitter biography describes the maths teacher as "often too excited about the topics I'm teaching". She used the account to set homework for students. | Her Twitter biography describes the maths teacher as "often too excited about the topics I'm teaching". She used the account to set homework for students. |
Schools in Danvers were closed on Wednesday, though the high school was scheduled to reopen for two hours on Thursday for students to talk to counsellors and grief specialists. | Schools in Danvers were closed on Wednesday, though the high school was scheduled to reopen for two hours on Thursday for students to talk to counsellors and grief specialists. |
The suspect's family and lawyer have not spoken to reporters. | The suspect's family and lawyer have not spoken to reporters. |
The accused had moved to Massachusetts from the state of Tennessee before the start of the school year. | The accused had moved to Massachusetts from the state of Tennessee before the start of the school year. |
He was said to be a star player on the school soccer team. One student, Kyle Cahill, told the Associated Press news agency the suspect's absence had been noted at a team dinner on Tuesday night. | He was said to be a star player on the school soccer team. One student, Kyle Cahill, told the Associated Press news agency the suspect's absence had been noted at a team dinner on Tuesday night. |
"We're all just a family. It just amazes me really," said Kyle. "He wasn't violent at all. He was really the opposite of aggressive." | "We're all just a family. It just amazes me really," said Kyle. "He wasn't violent at all. He was really the opposite of aggressive." |
Ritzer's death is the latest incident this week to send police scrambling to a US school: | Ritzer's death is the latest incident this week to send police scrambling to a US school: |
A Gallup poll released on Wednesday suggested that 25% of US parents are concerned about their children being harmed while at school, making it one of their top crime concerns. | A Gallup poll released on Wednesday suggested that 25% of US parents are concerned about their children being harmed while at school, making it one of their top crime concerns. |