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SALEM -- The Leetonia school district is in mourning for high school math/STEM/industry teacher, junior high robotics coach and junior high track coach Michelle Long, whose shooting death Wednesday night is being investigated as a homicide.
In a press release issued Thursday afternoon, the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office reported receiving a call at 9:28 p.m. Wednesday of a woman being shot on Carey Road in Butler Township.
Deputies located Long, 50, who resided on the property, dead from an apparent gunshot wound. The homicide remains under investigation, but the press release noted "we do have a person of interest."
No arrests had been made as of late Thursday afternoon.
Sheriff's office detectives were called to the scene and received assistance from the county prosecutor's office, county coroner's office and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Sheriff Brian McLaughlin thanked the Winona Fire Department for their assistance throughout the night and morning. No more details were released.
If anyone has any information about what happened, they're asked to contact the sheriff's office detective bureau at 330-424-7255. They can remain anonymous by submitting tips through the phone app, Columbiana County Sheriff, which can be found in Google Play, or the app store.
Leetonia school officials learned Thursday morning after the school day had already started that one of their own was gone and wasn't coming back.
"That's certainly a huge loss to the district," Superintendent Dennis Dunham said when contacted.
He said they were extending their sympathies to the entire Long family as they grieve the loss of Michelle.
Long had been a teacher at Leetonia for eight years and Dunham met with staff and students to share the tragic news, with grief counselors on hand throughout the school day and after to talk with students and staff. Counselors and clergy will be on hand again today, with the school remaining open.
"We feel it's extremely important that our students are in the building here so we can provide the support necessary," he said.
He described Long as an active teacher who was willing to take on new roles. Besides teaching math, she taught the STEM program, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and taught industry. She also served as the junior high robotics coach and a junior high track coach.
"Everybody knows one another in a small district like this K-12," Dunham said, adding that her room was in the middle of the building, so "there wasn't a person that didn't know her or see her. The impact that she made, whether with a smile or a wave, that's what people remember."
Students spent some time Thursday creating cards and art in her honor to display on a bulletin board as part of the grieving process. As Dunham said, everyone grieves differently. Students expressed shock and disbelief when they heard about her death. The district will help them deal with the grief.
The district posted the following notice on the school website and on social media: "Our Leetonia Bear Family experienced a terrible loss with the sudden passing of our high school math/STEM/Industry teacher and coach, Michelle Long. We will continue to provide access to grief counselors and all necessary support as we navigate the next steps together. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Long family and friends and will envelope them in thoughts and prayers as we all grieve."
mgreier@mojonews.com.