Sept. 30, 2003: Town says farewell to slain student

It was cold and blustery outside St. Boniface Catholic Church on Monday.

But Kelly Schmitt, 15, preferred the wind and rain to the heart-wrenching sounds of grief that echoed inside the sprawling church, where family and friends came to say goodbye to Aaron Rollins, the 17-year-old who was gunned down last week at Rocori High School.

"I don't want to start crying again. It took me a long time to stop, and I'm afraid I'll start again," said Schmitt, a Rocori High sophomore who lingered outside for most of the service.

The church, located just a few blocks from the high school, probably couldn't have fit one more person inside for the funeral.

Five days after Rollins and ninth-grader Seth Bartell were shot, allegedly by a fellow student, more than 1,500 people jammed St.

Boniface to pay their respects, according to the Cold Spring Police Department.

"Every nook and cranny is filled," said Cold Spring Police Chief Phil Jones, who at one point took a faint student outside to cool off, away from the body heat generated by so many people.

Bartell, 14, who was shot above the left eye, remains in critical condition at a St. Cloud hospital. Rollins died shortly after a bullet struck him in the neck on Wednesday morning. Jason McLaughlin, 15, a Rocori ninth-grader, has been charged with second-degree murder in juvenile court in connection with the shootings.

"This is still such a shock to everyone," said Jim Bertelsen of St. Cloud, who said he knows the Rollins family and often saw Aaron, a Subway employee, when he stopped to eat at the Cold Spring sandwich shop. "It's such a tragedy. It makes you realize how fragile life is."

A number of dignitaries also came to the funeral, which occurred as schools around the state flew their flags at half-staff at Gov.

Tim Pawlenty's request.

One speaker was the Rev. John Kinney, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud. U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy also attended. He spoke briefly before going inside, urging people to "use the energy we feel right now to move forward in a positive direction."

Kennedy also said the tragedy should prompt schools to reevaluate and improve security measures.

At this point, Jones said, every possible security measure is under consideration for Rocori, including metal detectors. He said he expects authorities to meet with school officials to discuss the issue in the next one to two weeks.

Rollins' schoolmates made up many of the mourners filling the church. Rocori school officials released students around 10:30 a.m.

Students grieve

Droves of students came pouring out of the school. Many of them had painted "We Love You, Aaron" on their car windows or put "AR SB" (Rollins' and Bartell's initials) somewhere on the vehicle.

Others wore black-and-white T-shirts, handed out by the school, that had Rollins' photo on the front.

Many students walked in rain and brisk wind to the nearby church.

"This is so sad," said Becky Staska, a senior.

Pete Severin, a senior, said he thought Rollins would have thought people were making too much of a fuss over him. Severin also said he thought that Rollins would have found it in his heart to forgive McLaughlin.

Rollins "was just a really nice kid," Severin said.

Although some at Rocori have talked about putting up a permanent memorial for Rollins, Zach Schmitz, a senior, said he won't need one.

"I know I won't ever forget Aaron," Schmitz said.

Dozens of floral arrangements filled the church. The Rollins family put up photos of Aaron and displayed belongings that were dear to him, including a black cowboy hat, an Arctic Cat snowmobile jacket and duck decoys. The Rocori football team brought and left a signed football from the Friday night game they dedicated to Rollins and Bartell.

`Not without hope'

At the funeral, the Rev. Cletus Connors, the St. Boniface pastor, urged people to cherish their memories of Aaron and to call upon a higher power as they grieve.

"We are not without hope. We are not without help. God is with us," Connors said. His words were heard by a reporter on an audio tape of the service made with permission. The Rollins family had requested that the media not attend.

One of Rollins' teachers, Ron Clark, also spoke at the funeral and recalled how the boy loved hunting and fishing.

Prayers were offered for Bartell during the service. And also for the McLaughlins. A speaker urged "that as they struggle to cope with the tragedy, that we as a community show them the compassion and understanding that we want to see in the world."

The rain stopped and the sun emerged just as Rollins' coffin was carried out of the church. Several school buses joined the funeral procession as it headed toward the cemetery. The back of Rocori High and its athletic fields are visible from the gravesite.

Bethany Loesch, a Rocori ninth-grader, wore a ribbon with Rollins' and Bartell's names on it. She said the funeral brings "a sense of closure," but said it will take a long time for the town to heal.

Karen Glad, a Rollins family friend, agreed, but said the healing is helped by Cold Spring's strong sense of community.

"You can't walk into the bakery or the grocery store without a handshake or a hug," Glad said. "I hope that's the legacy Aaron left behind."