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Man Who Killed Deputy Committed Suicide
By Debbie Williams Reporter
Published: Mon, September 10, 2007 - 5:40 pm
Debbie Williams
Hugs and tears at Robertsdale High School as student remember Lanzer the 10th grade honor student it seems was loved by everyone that knew him. Among the twelve hundred students his older brother Michael, "It's just the hardest thing I've ever dealt with in my life," he says choking back tears.
His Father, Donnie Lanzer says the assembly meant a lot to his family, "This assembly here, we needed this. The kids at the school here needed this. It was very touching."
His stepfather Ronny Smith, still in shock, "No belief whatsoever that something like this was going to happen when we got him to the hospital, we're still in denial and disbelief that this is going on."
And head football coach Scott Phelps who thought of Lanzer as one of his sons, "When you loose a kid like that you can’t even express the words."
With flags at half staff Robertsdale High School is in mourning. Grief counselors are on standby to help students deal with the loss.
Lanzer had been bitten by a spider on his face a few weeks ago. He was taken to the hospital running a high fever and having difficulty moving his arms and legs according to family members. He died over the weekend.
Late Monday afternoon, the Baldwin County coroner said autopsy results show a blood clot, and not a spider bite, killed Lanzer. he suffered a leg injury during football practice last week. That injury caused a blood clot to form. And that clot reached his lungs this weekend.
"There was kids in there that are crying, there are a lot of kids in there that loved him very much and was good friends with him," says Donnie Lanzer.
One thing is clear, he made quite and impression on everyone who knew him.
"The good always die young and here's a good example of it right here," says big brother Michael.
School officials plan to retire Lanzers’ football jersey, number “44”, in his honor.
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