I’m sorry. I’ll never feel sorry for anyone who takes their teen angst out on their unarmed classmates. It’s probably the most cowardly thing you can do. I was an extremely depressed teen in high school and never thought of “taking it out” on anyone but myself.
@@paulmckinnon5199-Brazil has no weapons and there are shootings. Australia is an island, which prevents smuggling, unlike the USA and Brazil, which border Mexico and Paraguay. Anyone who wants to attack will do so, even if it is using knives, like the attacks that occur in Germany and Brazil, the majority are with knives
@paulmckinnon5199 LOL, how naive are you?? Our entire Country is unarmed which was the purpose of Port Arthur, it did its job. We have no defence against Government tyranny which we observed the beginning of during the Plandemic. Most Australians are so gullible, they have no idea about struggle. Our fore fathers fought and died for out freedoms which most handed over willingly so they could leave home a day early and go to the movies.
Thanks for putting this out there. It’s really easy to see people like this on the news and write them off as crazy or something of that nature, but this took a lot of guts and I appreciate it so much as another outside observer.
I wish any kid watching this can see how what happens in High School, no matter how grand the feelings are, seem silly as an adult. I remember crying myself to sleep at night as a junior in HS because I could not get a girl to talk to me and I thought I was going to die alone. I ended up dating my first crush the next year for 4 years, getting engaged, breaking up, getting back together and then finding the love of life at work and leaving my ex for her, that was 26 years ago and we have been together everyday since and have 2 teenage sons. H.S. is just a blip on life's radar, use the feelings, feel them, good and bad, because next thing you know you blink and your 40.
People like me that have a hard time attracting females, and incels , ..we have a very VERY hard life. There is no agony that compares to being rejected by females. That's why I don't like these "tough guys" talking about protecting females. Those guys have no idea what incels go through, but yet they always speaking so highly of females. If them tough guys could spend one day in the shoes of an incel, they would smarten up
That’s true, but he was molested. That was what caused Jon’s troubles. Abuse, neglect and abandonment…that’s the recipe for adolescent mental illness. Addiction, gang activity, and suicidal/homicidal ideations are caused by childhood trauma. I was molested by my sister, beaten routinely by my father who struggled with mental illness after being beaten and abused by his father. My teen years were a MESS, and my early adult life was too. I speak from experience on this, looking back at age 47 that this is all completely avoidable.
I'm on Xanax now and Xanax had helped save my mental health. I've noticed if someone doesn't need it (which leads to drug abuse) it tends to make them show their bad side whereas if you need it then it truly can be a tool that helps you be better.
I agree that it could have contributed to the problem. Xanax made me feel so mean and angry when it was wearing off. I got my dr to change me to clonopam and totally solved the problem
i can really relate to being 15 in therapy and not actually letting therapy help me. My school also reacted the same when i went to ask for help. what a great interview Ian!! You know always supporting you and all of ur guests!!
It's a shame these schools don't help their students as needed. I remember kids seeing a school psychologist when I was in grade school. Schools should be supportive, not dismissive, and should seek help for students elsewhere if they need a resource not available at the school.
Excellent interview and powerful story. It's easy for all of us to sit back and judge people but until you walk in their shoes you really have no idea of what is going through this person's mind. Way to give back to the community Jon.
For some reason I don’t really believe in his emotions. Perhaps I’m wrong. I’m not a psychiatrist. Somehow I have a feeling that his behavior is somewhat sociopathic?! I feel bad for what happened to him as a child but that’s not a normal behavior to go out and shoot up a school full of innocent people. That’s a blunt disregard for lives of others. That’s not what people commonly do when they’re suicidal. And he doesn’t seem to take responsibility for his actions, it’s always something else, someone else, not his choices. This makes me difficult to believe him. But then also he’s been taking antidepressants and these sometimes cause depression, suicidal feelings or even aggression towards others. So difficult to say what’s actually went wrong.
@@conradomalley5784 honestly its one of those things you can’t put into words. I know i know that sounds like a copout but being in prison for years i can just tell
Is behavior was consistent with children who are under the influence of SSRI's and benzo's. People need to stop putting their kids in these horrific drugs.
His mom bought him a fatal weapon at 16. He also shot at 2 students, narrowly missing the head of a little boy and instead shooting the cap off that boy's head! He ruined these kids, teachers, and their loved ones lives - traumatizing them forever. He's now on Tiktok trying to profit off what he's done. Deplorable.
Ian, I like your interviews. Thank you. Little tip: please show emotion when interviewing and show the person you are listening and make it more of a conversation. It feels like you only ask questions on the note card, back to back. No reflecting, no emotion. 🎉 Keep up the good work!
I feel it's kind of unique to this one... hard to be sympathetic in a situation like this one though I'm glad he's helping learn what was going on in his head.
Not true. Ian is great at interviewing people. He's very expressive and totally conversant with most of his guests. This guy is different, not only because he is so monotone, but this is a different type of ex-con. School shooters are a different breed of criminal.
I was in the school district next door when this happened. I remember hearing about it and being terrified. This is something you only hear about on the news, not next door. I empathize with Jon based on my own mental health and diagnosis, Major Depressive Disorder - Severe. Everyone talks about "mental health awareness" yet there is very little "mental health help" without having to jump through hoops. I often wish I had cancer or some other kind of diagnosis because then people would believe me when I say I have some problems. I do have to laugh, however, when some tells me "you're not depressed, it's all in your head". My response, "yeah, no shit Capitan Obvious. That is what I'm trying to say!"
I feel you on that, when I rotated back to the states from Iraq I was begging for help and no one took me serious, hell my own family didn't help, they just made shit worse, thank God for one of my old bosses at Wal-Mart 1501 in Durham Nc who noticed I in trouble and got me the help I needed, his name is Kevin.
Amazing perspective into the mind of a person that’s gone down this road, wow. I wish Johnny all the best on his road back out in the public and in his journeys sharing his reflections.
Thank you Jon for sharing your story and reflection. I was present for a school shooting and lost a classmate. Over a decade later, it still sneaks up on me from time to time and my lingering question is always “why?” Usually we never get to hear that, and I appreciate you openly talking about it. I am a teacher now and my story is mainly helpful to prepare for a response, but yours is vital for the prevention of future violence. Please stay engaged with young folks and I wish you all the best.
I'm sorry you and your classmates experience that tragedy. I'm glad you're a teacher now. A couple of my friends from high school became teachers also, and we have good conversations about how to work with students who have psychological or behavioral issues and how to make the classroom safer. It's a hard conversation but it needs to happen to save people in the future
Regardless of his actions, I can sympathize with him as a 16 year olds. That age is pivotal and so explosive. Emotions, hormones and internal fights are all almost overwhelming. This is why you check on your friends and open up about mental health. This poor kid had undiagnosed major issues that went unresolved. I can’t imagine what you went through man, I truly hope you find peace and find meaning in life after at incident. Everyone deserves a second chance
All i hear from him is a whole lot of bullshit and zero accountability. He got lucky he didn’t kill anyone. Him and I know that he lied when he said he wasn’t going inside that school with the intent to kill but to be killed, he knew exactly what he wanted to do with that shotgun that day and somehow he’s out free again trying to make a living on social media about what he did. Pathetic
For some unknown reason I have landed on your channel. I subscribe to some fairly big channels and watch A LOT of interviews with people and their crimes and experiences. That was by far the biggest, and most impactful interview I have ever witnessed. Just in circumstances alone it’s a big story, but Ian your skills are top notch. I subbed for sure and wish you the best of luck and look forward to more
Nothing justifies what this guy did but it is obvious he is in deep deep pain from what he did. He was tortured by sexual abuse and the horrible state of mental illness and the lack of quality, affordable therapists to help only made his choices worse. He is a changed person who is vulnerable and honestly tells his story. I feel so bad for this guy. It wasnt fair what happened to him, he didnt deserve any of the treatment he got from the law and then imprisoned at 17 to one of the worst correctional facilities in the U.S. is probably more than I could have stood. You are an incredible human Jon! Do not ever doubt that.
He was seeing a head Dr he just wasn't honest with them so how would a cheaper head Dr help the biggest town within 50 miles of me has 826 people there's 7 head Dr clinics and 12 private practice head Dr's they all charge on a sliding scale if you can't afford their rate when I was injured in a wreck and told I'd never walk again the most expensive one was going to cost me 20 an hr how much more affordable could it be
Wow! What an incredible testimony. There may have some dark elements to his testimony but the way fate intervenes in his life is very apparent to me… all of those experiences came around full circle. His articulation, self awareness, and depth closes that circle perfectly. I enjoyed this interview! It can’t be easy to recount your worst mistakes to the world being labeled the “school shooter” but I admire his courage to speak out anyway in hopes of righting those wrongs. Rarely do your hear of people in his position making that turn around in his life and in his convictions to act. He has dissected the absolute worst period in his past in order to extract some kind of good from it to then share with the world.
Yeah there really is NO MENTAL HELP AVAILABLE LIKE THAT!!! I tried to get back into therapy (I'm diagnosed as schizophrenic with PTSD) and I got told that there was a year waiting list unless I wanna pay outta pocket which I have a wife, 15 year old son & a 6 year old daughter I dont have a shit ton of extra money... as a man who suffered from sexual abuse from an older male it is SUPER FUCKING HARD to tell someone that because even though I was 5 or 5 I feel like as a man that doesnt happen to you. Then I was in a house fire at 8 and in and out of comas in the hospital for a year learning how to walk and talk again, I was a MONSTER in the streets I hurt alot of people Thank god i found my wife when we were 15 or I would be dead or in prison FOREVER. I just turned 31 but I still struggle daily with my mind.. At least this guy didnt shoot and kill ANYONE he didnt even shoot anyone on purpose the principal was on some other shit. He showed what type of person he really is, most people if a situation gets to that point people are dying!!! It is SHOCKING TO ME that he didnt actively hunt and hurt people at all which makes this is a VERY COMPLEX SITUATION but proves what type of person he is I mean he even let them put him into a room and wait until police show up....
Wow. I came into the interview upset. I am a parent of three, one in elementary and two in middle. I am TERRIFIED of a school shooting, it's probably my biggest fear in life. I can't imagine my kids going through this. However, I respect you. I know you were very sick, and I'm very glad you're in a healthier place. Prison is awful, and you should have been treated more than punished. I am glad you didn't kill anybody, and I hope things are better for you. Thank you for speaking out about this, and I hope it helps somebody else.
Ian, I also first saw Jon on TT... just like you it was a few months back and during his live tonight this interview with you was mentioned. I appreciate your style and you asking the hard questions that had you probing for more for your audience. Well done. Excellent interview. Thank you. Subbed and now off to watch more of your content.
@@Randompotatoes-qs7bm It helps you avoid panic attacks by taking away your emotions. Maybe a panic attack or two would have stopped him on that particular day.
Xanax in high doses will cause extremely unpredictable behavior. Stealing is common along with violence. It causes u to not have any problems with acting on complete impulse. Its very similar to being drunk in that sense. Unpredictable behavior on high doses. Im am addict and know alot of other addicts who still do or used to use Xanax or other benzodiazepines and I have done some insanely stupid shit I'd never have done sober and so have slot of ppl I know that use Xanax or benzos. If he was leaning towards doin this already and popped extra Xanax like he claims it made it easier to commit to the dumb idea. Btw I'm clean now but used for almost 20 yrs. Also Xanax can't be used as a scapegoat for this. All I'm saying is it would make it easier to do whatever dumb idea u normally would have easily considered not worth doing due to bad consequences or some other reason like others safety or even ur own. Xanax he'll of a drug lol
Your channel is going to blow up bro. Great editing, great interviewer and questions, and guests that havnt been interviewed by every channel and their mother already. Like other podcasts and prison videos just recycle the same people and interview them excessively and it's about time we got random people.
I’m not sure how much of this conversation has been edited out of the video, but in future interviews it would be smart to offer them breaks or reassuring comments when they begin crying or start breaking down. Allow them to collect their thoughts or emotions. There were some instances where you come off as a little pushy. Other than that, great interview Ian!
You know what I think may be missing is responses instead of just follow-up questions not related to the answer. Just moving on to a totally different question instead of digging a bit deeper to an answer may be beneficial to the interview.
This interviewer is so nice to listen too. Doesn't interrupt stories much and the odd time he does, hes asking intelligent questions thats helpful to the show. I hope you interview some of the guests from the connect guy so we can actually hear the guests story.
Thank you again Ian for allowing me to do this interview with you. I hope it helps people in someway and furthers the conversation on mental health reform 🙏
John, I just wanted to say thank you for the work you're doing in mental health advocacy. I was sorry to hear about the attack, but I hope you're able to continue.
Jon, people throw around the word, "brave" and ""strong". You've displayed, without guile and exaggeration, great bravery and strength. I'm proud of what you (and Ian) have overcome. Question, what part, if any, did Faith have to do in your journey?
@@ElGuapo124 I got into meditation and yoga while in prison which also eventually led me to Buddhism. Introspection was a huge part of my healing and meditation helped me a lot along the path
@@Jonseekingpeace well bud, for what it's worth, God bless you, all the best and I am so very grateful for your sharing! I know many people will be helped!
Jon- your an amazing example of awareness, accountability , growth and survival. It seems like the person who grabbed you from behind actually saved your life. I truly hope life brings you success and happiness . Or your just a total sociopath and faked this whole interview
The guy doing the interview? If that's the case you want someone to conduct an interview without a bias opinion. I think he did a great job. We are not looking to hear a narrative of what happened that day just facts.
@@tomkeppler3519 lol you’re comparing apples to oranges. High schools have 1000’s of emotionally driven kids fenced in together all in one place. As an adult, I don’t worry about dying in a massacre because the chances are low obviously. WE ARE ADULTS WHO CAN CONTROL WHAT SITUATIONS WE PUT OURSELVES IN. Times have changed and statistics are higher you old fart.
@MaddoxMelton cause he's the posterboy for school yard shootings. It a terrost mentality. He's calm and taking responsibility for his actions. He gets out. Boom snipes people at a concert from a hotel room. He's no different than Osama.
@@MaddoxMeltonhe had every intention to, the only thing that separates him from any other school shooter is this loser wasn't successful. He should do the world a favor.
Man this show helps me just came home after 16 yrs in shirly max Massachusetts for traffiking drugs but wow it absolutely gives me hope.ina sence seinh others turn there life around
There is a lot of us with turned our lives around and are doing well. Look up Jesse Crosson, Marci Mari, Colin Rae, Cliff Panizich, Comrade Sinque, and Keri Blakinger. There’s many others too! Hope you continue to do well here on the outside!!
Usually love your interviews. I can't listen to this guy talk anymore. Just a whiner. Everyone goes through depression. Many get bullied. Most people dont chooses to shoot up their school. Don't feel sorry for this guy and stopped listening at the 9:22 mark. Why this guy isn't still in prison is a joke.
I never experienced anxiety or depression until after highschool, I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. I was popular, 4 sport varsity athlete, felt on top of the world. Then reality hit me and while all my classmates and “friends” went off to college, moved out, joined the military, etc.. I was completely left behind. I’m 22 now, still deal with anxiety but not NEARLY as bad as when I was 19 or 20. Anything is possible just keep pushing🤞🏼
I didn't enjoy high school at all. Although I was a really good athlete, I was small compared to the other and being a white guy in a predominately black high school wasn't easy. I was also an exceptional BMX racer/rider, so I found my path there. Also, my parents divorced when I was 15. That changed everything. No other relatives on the west coast where we lived. I had to deal with the harassment and being jumped by kids during and after school, but I was determined to stay in school and graduate. After high school I had no idea what to do. Academically I was behind. My high school just passed my by and let me graduate without paying attention to my progress or offering a path, but I did have one teacher in shop who tried to help me. He saw that I had a good eye for design, mechanical, and construction. That didn't have an impact until ten years after high school.....after many job and layoffs and nothing to do but party. I struggled in my first five years of community college, but always remembered that teacher who suggested I take drafting classes. Although it may have taken fifteen years, I transferred to a four year college and graduated. I have been a structural designer for 10 years. Never give up. You will find a path. Good luck.
You’re an excellent interviewer. Others in post prison genre still clearly lack the empathy and come over as self centred, the very traits that led to their incarceration yet you’re manner provides the interviewee space. No alpha male competing that often ruins potentially great guests from opening up. Great to watch your channel developing.
"Jon Romano, a student at Columbia High School, walked into school with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun on 9 February 2004. Without hesitation, he passed by the Main Office and ascended the stairs to reach a bathroom on the second floor. He sent messages to his friends while in a bathroom stall. One message wrote "I'm in school with shotgun, get out."[12][13] Romano then washed his hands and stepped into a hallway with the shotgun. He fired two shots before Assistant Principal, John Sawchuk, tackled Romano. As Romano and Sawchuk struggled, a third shot was fired and hit the leg of Michael Bennett, a special-education teacher at the school.[14] Romano was subsequently arrested after the incident."
I have alot of respect for this guy. It take alot to come forward as the school shooter. Im glad your story worked out differently. Maybe because you didn't really want to hurt anyone. ❤ I wish you well and yes you deserve a second chance.
for all those with other learning disabilities... you need a 504. no school wants to allow this umbrella because the accountability and responsibility level is way higher than an IEP! INSIST ON A 504!
@@bandccoresohio No Scarlet Letter - The parents take over catching them up. As is customary for government agencies, the parent choice to have a 504 Plan is not presented. Only their program, the IEP system is presented.
That is NOT true- a 504 is and IEP “ lite” and BOTH are legal documents that MUST be followed by law by staff and administration. I know my son is in special education.
I'm here because i just recently saw the movie they made about you! Wow, this guy is all tore up this many years later, and he didn't even hurt anyone! I hope he can get past it!
Thank you John. I personally know Kip kinkle, one of the first school shooters. He went in when he was only 14 and I can honestly say he’s not the same person anymore. I myself went in as a youngster for taking part in a high profile murder that took place in Salem Oregon in 2006. Years later here I am trying to put the pieces back together and doing what I can to give back to the community regardless about how people feel about me. I know who I am and I know what I stand for… none of which is evil. God bless man.!!!! And thank you Ian. Love your interviews my man. Can’t wait to tell my story in your podcast my man’s. Plan to start my own here shortly. Wish me luck.God bless.
And yet you’ve never been s/a as a child at 6 or 7 when you don’t even understand what’s happening to you love to hear someone as ignorant as you speaking on a subject you know nothing of not blaming anything he’s giving an explanation
I'm glad he talking about it because we can understand their mind better and be able to help them because the shootings have got to stop I have seen the aftermath of a mall shooting and its awful I'll never forget it.
Awesome interview. When he talks about his pain and starts to cry I can totally relate. I don’t usually cry about the pain I live with but if I verbally say it to someone I’ll start to break
I cant believe what I just heard...I want to say it's an amazing story but that would not be a cruel thing to say ...I want to tell john I'm very proud of you overcoming what has happened and still going thru ...in my eyes I see a warrior ...I wish you the best in the future thst God gives you ...as you know all that bad was supposed to happen so you can get to the purpose of your life ....Good bless you and Ian....
I have been so ignorant. I never realized that these actions are caused by pain sometimes and not just a need to commit carnage and release rage from an evil individual. My Goodness, even a parent of one of the victims, I be willing to bet they could feel sympathy for this young man.
This was an EXTREMELY well done and very very powerful interview… I just found your channel and I’m definitely going to subscribe… I myself did some really bad stuff when I was 14, me and my “friend” almost killed this guy with a baseball bat. I was tried as a juvenile and sentenced til I was 21 in NY. I ended up getting out on kid parole after 3 years. It was absolutely insane in lock up. Fighting everyday, slabbing and slashing atleast once or twice a week, horrible things… PTSD is a very very real thing I came to realize after I got older (and wasted another 4 years in prison and jail)… I’ve done a lot of bad things when I was younger and TRUST ME I now believe in karma… I got away with ALOT… but that karmic debt HAD to be paid and sure enough in 2021 I was almost murdered myself by some lunatic with a knife. I definitely think I payed my debt, in full, after that. BUT the police around my way don’t give a damn.. once you got a record, they will NEVER STOP MESSING WITH YOU. I get harassed and stopped by police constantly, to the point where I got a dashcam so I was able to capture their illegal stops, searches etc etc. finally filed a lawsuit against the NCPD and I’m awaiting my payout, and then I’m getting the hell off Long Island and never looking back… Peace and love.
I was locked up at the JDC in Westbury NY, then st Mary’s, got kicked out for catching another charge, went back to the JDC, then Spofford for about a month, then upstate to Tryon and Harlem Valley corrections. DFY/OCFS… Straight up gladiator school forreal… Razor tag was a very real “game”… Sunday night fights at Tryon where the “staff” would force kids to fight while everyone took bets, kids being abused in every way possible by both inmates and the “staff”… it was total insanity… this was 2002 to 2005.. was out for a year and then got locked up for a year in 2006, got out was good til 2009, caught another assault for a stabbing incident and went away for another 3 years as an adult… I’d choose adult prison over ANY of those juvenile prisons I was in ANYDAY.
Sounds like you're doing a little bit better today although struggling with some things. I'm not active on RU-vid that much but I'm gonna start trying to be. If I can help you somehow please let me know
I truly appreciate that and I appreciate YOU. I mean that. I just gotta get out of NY and never look back… when I get my settlement I’m out of here. Until then, I just been trying to give back. I wish there was a way for me to get the chance to speak to the juveniles at the JDC I did time at (Spofford, Tryon, and Harlem Valley are all closed now THANKFULLY for the kids) I would love to try and help kids avoid the path I went down.
As an ex teacher in the EU I can't even imagine this. But the respect for the teachers that just forgot that they were alive and tried to protect their kids. People often forget that we would give everything for the kids we teach
This was a truly emotional interview from him attacking and then him talking about being attacked. I was recently shot in a random attack and even being trained in Tactical Medical care and having a tourniquet on me. This event took years old PTSD I had done years in therapy for and brought it all back up 10x. I can still remain positive and know that out of 9 shots 1 hit me, and missed my femur by a 1/4" leaving my leg. Hearing him say about bits and pieces missing, I don't have that. I remember down to counting the rounds, hearing the bullets pass me and my GFs heads and feeling the blood soaking my hands as I applied my TQ and started to draw my CCW pistol. A split second has up-ended our lives and our attacker is out on bail. It was jarring to hear bail when he tried to kill 2 innocent people out for a walk. I have days I wonder if his family is coming to shut us up being the way they stared us down in court and 99% sure got our pictures. We don't go anywhere unarmed and I wear a vest traveling in higher risk areas now. I hope the people who were hurt by John emotionally can get past the trauma in a meaningful way. It never goes away completely. Trauma rewires your brain forever. At least John seems truly remorseful. Our shooter seemed annoyed at prelims and was acting like everyone was an inconvenience to him. @ian bick well done on the tough questions and being genuine in what you asked. One of my favorite interviews so far.
Why wouldn’t you? Do you just want to interview normal people, who’ve never had anything exceptional happen? One of the points of interviews is learning about other people, and where we can learn the most is more extreme edge cases, because we aren’t as familiar with those.
bro… you really need to learn to just let him talk. You trying to guess what he’s saying next and him having to keep saying “no” before continuing really kills the momentum. He was having no issues talking, just let him talk
I think he wants to look pissed at him due to what he did and how he wants to continue guilt shaming even though this dude is spreading awareness, did his time- as a child, AND he’s getting him views.
Not one mention of his dad. His dad was either the abuser or not in the picture. glossed over that… can’t understand his childhood and path to his crime without knowing this.
Fascinating guest... but the Ian you gotta work on empathy or some emotional engagement if possible. It seems very asperger-like ... which i happen to know about personally, and have worked on for my own channel. But it goes a long ways to endearing an audience to the topic and episode
Im glad to hear hes. Not playing the blame game . The teacher's that grabbed him had way more balls than all them cops from Texas that were armed and still pusst out .
The sword attack happened in my area. As a social worker, it was very scary to hear about. You assist people everyday and never think something like that could happen to you.
