The day of the February 27^th shootings, T.J. Lane’s parents and grandparents were called to the police station to pick-up his sister who had been at school. They were escorted to an interrogation room to keep them apart from residents who were angry over the shootings. Defense attorney Mark DeVan says the family was unaware their private conversations in the room where they were all gathered were being recorded. Prosecutors say the family should have realized they were under surveillance because they were in a secure area of the police station, and the room was marked “Interview Room 1.” At the court hearing, each family stated that they were unaware of being taped. During cross examination, the prosecution’s only witness, Chardon Police Lt. Troy Dunkin, was asked by DeVan if family members would have known the device in the room was a camera.

“If I had to describe it I’d say it looks more like a fire alarm than a camera, so most people would not know it is a video camera.”