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Butler County Teen Sentenced For School Shooting

Two students were shot Monday and two others were injured when a student opened fire in the school lunchroom.
Tana Weingartner
/
WVXU
Two students were shot Monday and two others were injured when a student opened fire in the school lunchroom.

A 15 year old Butler County teen, who admitted shooting two students and injuring two others inside the Junior/Senior Madison High School cafeteria, has been sentenced.

Monday afternoon, Judge Ronald Craft ordered James Austin Hancock to be committed to the Ohio Department of Youth Services until he is 21 years old. He also can't have any contact with the victims or their families. Additionally, Hancock must pay restitution to one of the families in the amount of $1,810.

Hancock was charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, inducing panic, and making terrorist threats, all felonies.

Judge Craft told Hancock if he doesn't behave he will have to serve the adult portion of his sentence, which is nine years.

In March, two other Madison school district students were charged in connection with the February shooting. Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones says two boys knew the suspect, Austin Hancock, had a gun and planned to take it to school. They are each charged with failure to report a crime, which is a fourth degree misdemeanor.

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With more than 30 years of journalism experience in the Greater Cincinnati market, Ann Thompson brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her reporting. She has reported for WKRC, WCKY, WHIO-TV, Metro Networks and CBS/ABC Radio. Her work has been recognized by the Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists. In 2019 and 2011 A-P named her “Best Reporter” for large market radio in Ohio. She has won awards from the Association of Women in Communications and the Alliance for Women in Media. Ann reports regularly on science and technology in Focus on Technology.