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Parma Police Public Information Officer Scott Traxler and Parma Schools confirmed to News 5 that a student shot themselves in the Valley Forge High School cafeteria on Monday.
The Parma City Schools District later confirmed that the student died. Parma Heights Police said the student was 18 years old; her name has not been released.
Police got the call around 2:11 p.m. Both Parma Heights Police and Parma Police responded to the scene.
Officers located the student, and Parma Heights firefighters administered first aid before paramedics transported her to a nearby hospital, where she died from her injury, Parma Heights Police said.
The school district said that students were evacuated and went to nearby Cuyahoga Community College.
Parma Heights Police said it was quickly determined that there was no ongoing threat to students or staff.
Parma City Schools issued the following statement regarding the situation:
Earlier today at approximately 2:10 p.m., an incident involving a firearm occurred at Valley Forge High School. Law enforcement and fire personnel responded immediately and remain on site.
The situation is contained, and there is no ongoing threat to students or staff. Student safety remains our top priority, and we are working closely with local authorities as the investigation continues.
As part of our safety protocols, the school is operating under heightened supervision, and students were evacuated to the designated reunification site at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C).
We understand this is concerning for our school community and will provide additional updates as more information becomes available
Both Valley Forge High School and Normandy High School will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday to allow the community time to process and grieve, according to the district. Grief counselors and crisis support teams will be available for students, family and staff at Normandy High School on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at Valley Forge High School on Wednesday.
News 5's Damon Maloney spoke with a student who attends Valley Forge, but left school early on Monday. Soon after, while she was away from school, she began receiving messages from her friends about what had happened.
"I'm terrified, and I'm honestly shocked," student Layla Diperna said during an interview with her mother. "As soon as I heard that, we both started breaking down crying because she could have shot up the school; many children could have been hurt, that is my biggest fear, and I know a lot of other students' biggest fear.
In the messages to Diperna, she and her mom said her classmates described the moments following the gunshot.
"Many of them said that ... every officer you can imagine came in the building, rushing in with guns drawn ... yelling at everybody 'get out, get out,'" Diperna and her mom said. "Basically terrifying for all the students there."
The district sent the following letter to families:
"Dear PCSD Families, Students, and Staff,
We are sending this communication in collaboration with the Parma Heights Police Department. We are devastated to share that the incident at Valley Forge High School has resulted in the loss of a student. Our hearts are with the student’s family, friends, staff, and all who are impacted by this tragic loss.
Out of respect for this loss and to allow time for our community to process and grieve, Valley Forge High School and Normandy High School will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, April 21, 2026 and Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
We encourage families to use this time to take care of yourselves and one another. Check in with your children, create space for conversation, and lean into the support of family and friends. Everyone processes grief differently, and it is important that our students feel supported in whatever way they need.
We are grateful for our strong collaboration with local law enforcement; our emergency safety protocols were implemented as designed. We sincerely thank our staff, students, and first responders from Parma and Parma Heights, as well as our partners at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), for their swift and coordinated response.
Please note the following supports and schedules for our high school students and staff:
4/21/2026
On Tuesday, April 21, 2026 both high schools will be closed; however, our grief counselors and crisis support teams will be available for students, families, and staff at Normandy High School from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. To support access to these services, shuttle transportation will be available from Valley Forge High School at 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. We will then transport them back to Valley Forge High School at 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Students may access this transportation if needed or use their own transportation to go to Normandy to access counseling services.
4/22/2026
On Wednesday, April 22, 2026 both high schools will remain closed, but we will have grief counselors and crisis support teams at Valley Forge High School in the Media Center. The building will be open for students who need access to counseling from 9:00 AM -1:00 PM
4/23/2026
On Thursday, April 23, 2026 school will resume and follow a typical schedule for ALL students at both Normandy and Valley Forge. At both high schools, testing will be moved to Friday for students taking US History and Government. Counselors will be on site at Valley Forge High School in the Media Center.
4/24/2026
On Friday, April 24, 2026 testing for US History and Government will take place from 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM in both high schools. Test takers are still required to remain in their testing rooms until the testing time is complete. Students will be dismissed from that testing session and there are no classes after testing on those days. Counselors will be on site at Valley Forge High School in the Media Center.
Families who would like assistance supporting their child may consider the following resources:Please know that we are here for you. We will continue to support our students, staff, and families in the days ahead and will share additional information as appropriate."
- Cleveland Clinic Grief & Bereavement Hotline: (844) 204-7433
- National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine: (800) 950-6264
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
Parma Mayor Timothy DeGeeter released the following statement:
"Today, our city grieves with the school district and Parma Heights. We lost a young member of our Valley Forge family, and there are no words adequate to express the sorrow we feel for her loved ones in this unimaginable moment. Our hearts are with her family, friends, classmates, teachers and all those impacted by this devastating loss. To her family — please know that the City of Parma mourns with you.
To our students, parents and school staff — what you experienced yesterday was traumatic, and it is okay to not be okay. Please lean on one another and reach out for help. Parma City School District has grief counselors and crisis support teams available at Normandy High School on Tuesday, April 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and at Valley Forge High School on Wednesday, April 22, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
I also want to reassure our community that there is no ongoing threat to our schools. When the call came in yesterday, Parma Police officers immediately responded and worked closely with the Parma Heights Police Department, Parma Heights Fire Department, Tri-C Western Campus Police and Parma City Schools staff to protect students, safely evacuate the building and secure the scene. Our school resource officers at Normandy High School, Shiloh Middle School, and Greenbrier Middle School remained available to provide any additional support needed.
Moments like this remind us many people in our community may be struggling in ways we cannot see. If you or someone you know is hurting, reach out and call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. Reaching out can save a life.
Last night, like so many Parma parents, I came home and had real conversations with my teenage kids. As a family, we talked, and I reminded them that they are loved. Keep the family of this young woman, and all those affected, in your thoughts and prayers. Parma is a strong community — and every life is a priceless gift."
Parma Heights Mayor Marie Gallo released the following statement:
"Our community is heartbroken by the tragedy that occurred at Valley Forge High School. Our thoughts are with the student, her family and everyone affected during this incredibly painful and difficult time.
We want to commend our first responders from Parma Heights and Parma for their compassionate response, and we want our school district to know that Parma Heights stands alongside their leadership, staff and students in the wake of this tragedy as they work to support everyone affected.
We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support. Your phone calls, messages and check-ins have meant more than words can express. Thank you for keeping our community in your thoughts during this time of grief and sadness."
A terrifying moment for parents
Police posted outside the door of Valley Forge High School serve as a reminder of what Jim Bystricky calls the scariest few moments of his life.
He was at the school to pick up his son at dismissal when he said he suddenly saw teachers and students running from the building.
"We rolled down the windows, and everybody's saying 'there's a gun, there's a gun, there's a gun,'" Bystricky said.
His daughter was supposed to stay after school for track, but in all the commotion, she wasn't answering her phone, and police were flooding into the building.
"I didn't know if she was alive. I didn't know if she was dead," Bystricky said.
His daughter was OK; she was with a friend in another part of the building, away from the cafeteria.
"I just see the principal and like a bunch of teachers, like 'go, go, get out,'" Bystricky's daughter said.
Both Bystricky's daughter and her friend asked us not to share their names.
Police and the district sent statements regarding what had happened, but a district spokesperson has yet to respond to our email about how a student was able to get a gun into the school in the first place.
"We need to get metal detectors," Bystricky's daughter's friend said. "We need to have something to prevent it in the future.
Bystricky agrees and said he does not feel safe sending his children back to school.
He said that on this 27th anniversary of the deadly Columbine school shooting, he hopes there is a way that parents can work with the district to keep scenes like this from ever happening again at his children's school.
"Let's do something," Bystricky said. "Maybe do a parent watch, watch the parking lots, watch this, do something more than what we're doing now. Right now, it feels like we're doing nothing. No metal detectors, nobody's getting searched, guns just coming into school. No big deal; and this happens."
Parma Heights Police is handling the investigation; Parma Police is assisting.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
