Former teacher recalls childhood of Duncan teen accused of murder

A once quiet town is now the center of a worldwide debate on race relations and gun laws after a random murder by three suspected teenagers.

Sharon Burum taught middle school in Duncan for 19 years.

She tells KRMG, “I taught one of those boys. He had a kind heart in my class. And I can’t imagine that he could have done something so thoughtless.”

That boy is now accused in the shooting of Chris Lane as he jogged through an affluent neighborhood.

Community members have rallied around the families.

They are also trying to fix their own wounds.

Burum tells KRMG, “We have had memorial services of our own to help us to try to heal. And we are looking for ways in our community to address an issue maybe that we hadn’t had to face before.”

She says Duncan is filled with hundreds of children who volunteer and are part of church youth groups.

“We’ve had a wonderful safe community. And one thing happens and then forever that event is connected with your city.”

The victim was from Australia and had come to Oklahoma to play baseball and go to college.

Over the weekend, thousands of former teammates gathered in Australia for a memorial.