Memorial being planned for students killed in Appomattox Co. shootings

8:00 p.m.

  Employees at a skating rink in Appomattox are planning a memorial benefit for three of the victims police say were gunned down by Chris Speight.

  The benefit at A.J. Skate World will raise money for the families of Bo Scruggs, Emily Quarles, and Morgan Dobyns, all students at Appomattox County High School.

  It’s scheduled for January 29th at the rink from 7 p.m to 10 p.m.

  Owner Chuck Warner said all money from the door and donations will be given to the families.

  Warner said several employees (his granddaughters) knew all three victims from school.

  Counselors will be on hand at the high school to help students in the grieving process.

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11:21 a.m.

From Scott Leamon, in the field
WSLS Reporter

I just got out of a news conference with Appomattox County Schools Superintendent Dorinda Grasty and High School Principal Michael Kelly, about the deaths of three Appomattox High School students in the deadly shootings this past Tuesday.  Ronald “Bo” Scruggs II, 16, of Dillwyn; Emily Quarles, 15, of Appomattox; and Morgan Dobyns, 15, of Appomattox, were three of the eight victims.

Superintendent Grasty called this a “horrific tragedy.“  She said groups of crisis teams, guidance counselors, and additional response teams at the high school today. Two of those groups were brought in from Lynchburg.

Grasty added that the school will focus on mourning, not instruction.

Principal Kelly added that plans are being worked on for a student memorial for the three teenagers killed, but he did not have any specifics about the memorial.

Kelly said, “Our faculty and students are experiencing the full spectrum of grief, from denial and anger to acceptance.“

I’ll be live on WSLS at Noon with an update on the situation at the school.  I’ll have a full report tonight on WSLS at 6:00 p.m.