SAND LAKE, MI – The school district attended by two of the three children found dead from a shooting incident is offering support to staff and students Tuesday.
Two of the three children found dead in Solon Township with a deceased woman Monday, Feb. 18 attended Tri County Area Schools. The school district’s crisis response team is offering support Tuesday.
In a letter to parents and the community, Superintendent Allen Cumings said it was with extreme sorrow that he was sharing that sisters Cassidy and Kyrie Rodery died in a sad tragedy.
“The sisters both enjoyed school and brought joy and big smiles with them to school each day,’’ he wrote in his Monday night letter.
“We hurt and mourn with the loss of these precious students. Please keep the family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this time.’’
The four deceased bodies were discovered Monday afternoon at a residence on 19 Mile Road NE near Division Avenue between Cedar Springs and Kent City. The Kent County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the details of what transpired.
Investigators are attempting to locate a second crime scene in the shooting deaths. After executing a search warrant late Monday on the residence in the 200 block of 19 Mile Road NE, deputies found evidence leading them to believe “several of the shootings” took place at an undetermined location.
Cassidy was in the first grade at MacNaughton Elementary and Kyrie was in the third grade at Sand Lake Elementary.
Cumings said the district’s crisis team is available to students, staff and parents at MacNaughton and Sand Lake schools Tuesday. He said there will be staff available to meet with any middle school or high school students who need assistance as well.
Cassidy’s teacher, Mrs. Kelley, is quoted in the letter as saying she was “a friend to everyone, a hard worker, and was always on task. Kyrie’s teacher, Mrs. Schnepp, shared that Kyrie “loved to read, always volunteered to help others, her classmates loved her, and that she was a good friend.’’
The district has provided documents to families on ways to speak and work with their children during grief.
Prior to attending Tri County Area Schools this school year, the children had attended Kent City Community Schools the last few years.
Superintendent Mike Weiler said his district’s crisis team met Tuesday morning with elementary staff because the news about the tragedy started to trickle out late Monday night. He said it hit the Kent City Elementary staff hard and a couple of them needed to go home.
“We are keeping an eye on our kids and making sure our staff gets support," he said, noting they are a small close-knit community.
“Kyrie was here the longest and was very popular with the staff. Their hearts are heavy today over their former students."