Thomas Michael "T.J." Lane III was born on September 19, 1994. He grew up in Chardon, Ohio. There were reports that Lane came from a troubled family background. Some friends described him as quiet and somewhat sad. They noted that he often put up a wall between himself and others, making it hard for him to open up.

He attended Lake Academy, a school meant for students who had academic or behavioral issues. This school had around 55 students and served as an alternative to regular public schools. At Lake Academy, Lane learned alongside peers who faced similar challenges. He was in his sophomore year when the tragic events occurred.

In school, Lane had some rivalries. Witnesses mentioned that he had a personal rivalry with one of his classmates, Russell King Jr. Some students shared that King had threatened to fight Lane. Reports indicated that Lane had taken up weightlifting in an effort to prepare for this confrontation. Lane frequently took the bus to and from school with King and other students from Chardon High School and the nearby Auburn Career Center.

While growing up, Lane spent time with his maternal grandparents in Chardon Township. He often visited them on weekends, although he did not live there. The Lane family had several properties, and police would later conduct searches at these locations in the wake of the Chardon High School shooting.

Lane’s online presence also raised eyebrows. He had a Facebook profile where one of his posts included dark comments, including a line that read, "Die, all of you." He later claimed this was just a class assignment. Friends described him as a regular teenager, but there were hints of troubling thoughts that later became significant.

On February 27, 2012, at around 7:30 a.m., Thomas Michael "T.J." Lane III entered Chardon High School in Ohio and opened fire in the cafeteria. He targeted several students who were gathered there before classes started. Lane quickly shot four male students at one table, injuring another and ultimately wounding a female student during his escape from the building. The shooting caused panic as students and staff tried to flee the scene.

Law enforcement arrived and arrested Lane outside the school near his parked car. He was soon identified as the shooter. Reports indicated that he used a .22 caliber handgun during the incident. Among the victims, three students died almost immediately from their injuries: 16-year-old Daniel Parmertor, 17-year-old Russell King Jr., and 16-year-old Demetrius Hewlin. Two other students were also hospitalized; one, Nick Walczak, suffered severe injuries that left him permanently paralyzed, while the other, Joy Rickers, was injured but was released shortly after treatment.

In the aftermath, Lane was detained as a juvenile while the court considered whether to try him as an adult. Following a competency hearing, he was found fit to stand trial. In June 2012, he was indicted on multiple charges, including aggravated murder. On March 19, 2013, Lane pleaded guilty and received three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.

In September 2014, Lane made headlines again when he escaped from prison with two other inmates. He was recaptured within a day and subsequently transferred to a maximum-security prison.

The tragic shooting led to significant legal actions from the families of the victims. Civil lawsuits were filed against Lane's family and the educational institutions involved. Settlements were reached for nearly $2.7 million, highlighting the repercussions of this violent incident on the community and families affected.