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Second victim of Cold Spring school shooting dies Friday
October 10, 2003

Seth Bartell had been in critical condition ever since he and senior Aaron Rollins were shot Sept. 24. (File photo)

St. Cloud, Minn. — (AP) The 14-year-old freshman who was shot last month at Rocori High School in Cold Spring died at St. Cloud Hospital shortly before 1 p.m. Friday, hospital officials announced.

Seth Bartell died moments before hospital officials began a news conference where they said he was alive and in critical condition. The hospital later said the speakers did not learn of Bartell's death until after the news conference was over.

However, Dr. Daniel Whitlock, vice president for medical affairs, did tell reporters that Bartell's condition had worsened in the past 48 hours due to complications from the bullet that remained in the back of his head.

After Bartell died, Whitlock, who has served as spokesman for the Bartell family, said in a prepared statement that "our hearts ache for Seth's family. The loss of a child is the greatest tragedy anyone can experience."

The hospital said staff in the pediatrics ward where Bartell was being treated didn't immediately inform the speakers at the news conference of his death because they wanted to give the Bartell family time to inform friends and relatives.

The hospital said that it would not provide further details of Bartell's death.

Dr. Patricia Scherrer, who had been treating Bartell, said Sept. 26 that he was able to move his arms and legs but it was unclear how much damage the bullet had done.

Bartell had been in critical condition ever since he and senior Aaron Rollins were shot Sept. 24. Rollins, 17, died at St. Cloud Hospital shortly after he arrived there about 12:30 p.m. that day.

Prosecutors for Attorney General Mike Hatch charged Rocori freshman Jason McLaughlin, 15, on Sept. 26 with second-degree murder and attempted murder. Hatch's spokeswoman declined to comment on the case Friday because it was in juvenile court.

Investigators have not said what the motive might have been.

Bartell was shot twice, once in the left side of his forehead and once in the upper left side of his chest, a superficial wound, St. Cloud Hospital officials have said.

Bartell's death came after Superintendent Scott Staska erroneously told reporters Thursday night that Bartell had died. Hospital officials quickly disputed the statement, but it was widely reported by media outlets.

As reports of Bartell's death circulated Thursday night, an emotional group of students came to the school's entrance. The students, mostly boys, seemed angry, pointing the headlights of their trucks at television news cameras and revving their engines before leaving in a group.

"They're doing what they need to do," said Rocori school board vice chairwoman Lynn Schurman.

Staska said Thursday that counselors and clergy would be on hand Friday because "it's very emotional for the kids." He did not immediately return a telephone call from The Associated Press on Friday.

Bartell's friends have said he had a passion for alternative sports such as skateboarding, snowboarding and BMX biking.

"He's basically good at every extreme sport. He's just built for it," Jared Nordstrom, 14, a freshman at the school said before Bartell died. Nordstrom shared a class with Bartell in the period before the shooting and said they had talked about snowboarding. (Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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