Perpetrator without a profile: The Lake Worth school shooting

New Crisis, The, Sep/Oct 2000 by Gandhi, Hetal

He was not your average 13-year-old. He was an A and B honor-roll student and mentor, He had no criminal record, and no history of problems at home or at school. But all of that changed last May 26 when seventh-grader Nathaniel Brazill shot and killed one of his favorite instructors, English teacher Barry Grunow, 35, at Lake Worth Middle School in Lake Worth, Fla.

Grunow, a husband and father of two, was a favorite among his students, and he had a close relationship with Nate Brazill. Grunow had even nominated Nate for a mentor award.

The tragedy didn't have the formula of other school shootings that have plagued the country in recent years. How and why would this 13-year-old boy kill a teacher whom he loved? Speculation was rampant: he has bad parents; he was an outcast at school; everyone ignored the signs of trouble; he was influenced by violent media.

None of it appeared to apply in this case.

Nathaniel Brazill is the son of Nathaniel Brazill Sr., 42, a postal worker, and Polly Ann Powell, 35, a cook at a local retirement home. They grew up together in the tightly knit community of Lake Worth on Florida's southeast coast, which is predominantly African American. It is a community in the true sense of the word, Powell says. Nate's grandmother and aunts and uncles still live in the neighborhood where Nate was born and being raised.

Polly Powell gave birth to Nate on September 22, 1986. She never married Brazill Sr., but she says they have always been close friends. Nate was being raised by his mother. He often visited his father, who moved to Daytona Beach about five years ago. Brazill Sr. says he had complete confidence that Polly was doing an excellent job raising their son. Meanwhile, he played an active role in his son's life by sending a $50 check every week to help with the expenses and visiting Nate as often as possible.

Powell has been married twice. She says that she had the strength to leave her first, abusive marriage because of her love for her son. She shares a daughter with her current husband, whom she married last year.

Nate was being raised to be well mannered. According to his parents, he is very intelligent. His favorite subject is math. After Polly Powell's struggle with breast cancer, she bought Nate a computer to show her appreciation for all of his help. He isn't big on watching television, like most kids his age. But when he does, his favorite channels are A&E and Discovery.

Nate was outgoing in school. Sometimes he was a prankster, who made friends laugh, but he never got into trouble. He was also intelligent and well mannered, a reason that many kids teased him. He rarely mixed his school and home life. In fact, many of his friends thought he was a rich prep kid, not one of their neighbors.

At home he was simply the pride and joy of Polly Powell's life. Seeing Nate succeed in school and behave well made her long hours at work seem worthwhile. Nate liked school and would often tell his mother about his daily activities. It wasn't one of those relationships where he came home and locked himself in his room.

On Friday, May 26th, however, Nate Brazill's life took a tragic turn.

It was the last day of school. At lunch he and others reflected on the school year and whom they would miss. Nate mentioned English teacher Barry Grunow. Later, a freefor-all water-balloon fight broke out in a hallway, involving dozens of students, including Nate. As they heard guidance counselor Kevin Hinds approaching, the kids fled. But Nate and a female student were caught and taken to the principal's office. Polly Powell was contacted at work and was asked whether she wanted to pick up her son or if he could walk home. She said he could walk home.

Nate left school.

He stopped by to see his Aunt Liz at work, but she wasn't there. Nate said that he wanted her to return to school with him and talk to the assistant principal about the incident. He wanted to return to classes so he could say his year-end goodbyes to classmates. Unable to find his aunt, he said he became frustrated and angry.

He went home and pulled out a .25-caliber Raven semiautomatic pistol that he stole from his surrogate grandfather, Elmore McCray, 75. Both Powell and McCray said they were unaware that Nate had the gun. Nate later admitted that he showed it off to one of his friends two days before the shooting.

Around 3:20 p.m., Nate returned to school, entering through a back door. He walked to Barry Grunow's class and asked to speak to two friends. Grunow denied him permission because he did not have a hall pass. Then Nate pulled out the gun and pleaded with Mr. Grunow. According to student witnesses, Grunow's last words were, "Stop pointing that gun at me, Nate."

Nate fired a single shot that hit Grunow in the head. Nate shouted "Oh s-!" and fled, waving his gun at his math teacher, John James. Nate yelled, "Don't bother me Mr. James!" A school surveillance camera captured the entire incident. Nate fled by jumping a fence and cutting across a private yard. He spotted a police car, which was being driven by Officer Michael Mahoney, a family friend. He dropped to his knees and surrendered, saying, "I shot somebody."