School Custodian Suspended after Someone Reports He has a Gun and a List of People to Shoot

An alleged threat by a custodian at Strongsville High School sent police on a fast investigation Friday evening.

District Business Manager Mark Donnelly called police about 5:30 p.m. after learning a custodian had allegedly told people he had a gun in his car and a list of people he wanted to shoot.

But police found no evidence of a gun or a threat -- just people who had heard about it through the grapevine.

"Somebody heard he had a gun, but nobody saw one," Detective Lt. John Janowski said.

Police believe the alleged threat may have been exaggerated as it was passed along.

"Some people heard that he said he was going to shoot people," Janowski said. "We haven't found anybody yet he actually said it to."

Fueling the speculation is that the custodian has reportedly been acting angry lately and has been yelling at people.

At one point, he allegedly said a vehicle in the parking lot was suspicious and he should shoot the taillight out, Janowski said.

On Friday, one of the man's co-workers did not show up for work, and told his boss it was because he was scared. 

The boss told his supervisor, who told Donnelly.

Officers went to the custodian's house in Brunswick, where they determined there was no immediate threat. 

"It appears that the original story (Strongsville Police) received was fourth- or fifth-hand and somewhat convoluted," a report says. "No actual threats were made."

Janowski said the custodian is on leave from his job while police and the Strongsville schools finish an investigation.