24-Year-Old School Teacher Killed

(Contributing Writers: Adrianna Sgouris and Kristen Rinaldi)

Danvers, Mass. lost a well-respected and loved young teacher on Tuesday Oct. 22.

A photo was posted on the Danvers Police Department’s Facebook page showing a tall, lanky, shorthaired boy who has now been arrested as being the main suspect of the killing. He was fourteen years old.

According to the Huffington Post, no name could be released due to his age; however, CBS News announced that the alleged shooter is in fact, Philip Chism.

Reports indicate that Colleen Ritzer, a 24-year-old math teacher at Danvers High School, was missing late Tuesday night after not returning home or answering her cellphone.

Blood was found in the second floor bathroom, and the remains of her body was recovered Wednesday morning in the woods behind the school.

Chism was also reported missing on Tuesday night after he had skipped out on a soccer team dinner, but was later seen walking along the road in neighboring town called Topsfield. Chism was arrested on the spot.

According to the Huffington Post, Chris Weimer, who was a former student of hers, said, “She was the nicest teacher anyone could ever have. She always had a warm smile on her face.”

Ritzer would post homework assignments and motivational math related links and pictures to her Twitter account.

Ritzer referred to herself as a, “Math teacher often too excited about the topics I’m teaching.”

Zoe Baldwin, a student at Bloomsburg University, said, “It’s sad to hear that someone that young and that enthusiastic about what they’re doing in life… it’s sad to hear that they’re gone.”

Ironically, Chism was described as not being, “Violent at all. He was really the opposite of aggressive,” according to Kyle Cahill to the Huffington Post. He said he was stunned.

According to Yahoo News, students left flowers and teddy bears in front of the school in honor of Ritzer.