Olathe East High School shooter sentenced to decades in prison as part of plea deal
OLATHE, Kan. (KCTV) - The former Olathe East High School student who opened fire inside an office is sentenced to 20 years in prison.
A Johnson County judge sentenced Jaylon Elmore Wednesday afternoon as part of a plea deal in the 2022 shooting.
The 21-year-old pleaded guilty in January 2025.
The Johnson County District Attorney originally charged Elmore with attempted capital murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm for the shooting that happened in an office inside Olathe East High School on March 4, 2022. Elmore, a school resource officer (SRO) and an assistant principal were injured in the shooting.
Elmore spent months in the hospital being treated for his injuries following the shooting. The other two men were treated and released the same day.
The shooting happened after a student reported that someone had a gun inside Olathe East, according to court documents. A counselor told the assistant principal. The vice principal and another assistant principal pulled Elmore to the school’s office. They asked to search Elmore’s backpack, court documents state.
The affidavit shows that Elmore got defensive, hugged his backpack and wouldn’t let anyone search the bag. The assistant principal texted the school resource officer to come to the office. When the SRO arrived, Elmore pulled the gun and fired five shots at the SRO, striking him.
The SRO returned fire, injuring Elmore and the assistant principal.
The school resource officer wrapped a tourniquet around one of his wounds while s attended to Elmore’s wounds, the affidavit states. The principal then initiated a lockdown of the school.
No one else was injured in the shooting.
Kaleb Stoppel, the former assistant principal at Olathe East High School, says the last three years have been difficult for him, his family, and the community. He hopes Wednesday’s sentence brings some peace and resolution for those impacted, as he continues to come to term with it himself.
“I know whether a parent had kids in the school that day or whether they have been lifelong Johnson County and Olathe citizens, this is a big deal in our city,” said Stoppel. “I hope people aren’t scared. I hope people can heal through this, they can think about their own mental health needs, their own trauma needs because this will be with us for the rest of our life, but it is how we grow from this.”
Elmore addressed the courtroom ahead of his sentence, apologizing for what he did.
“I never wanted to cause so much pain and sadness in people’s lives,” said Elmore. “I understand I let people down by my actions, but I am not a bad guy. I was wrong to bring a firearm inside a school building, and I regret it every day how things turned out. Again, I want to apologize for causing harm to the family, the community, myself. I apologize for all the tears and trauma I caused, too.”
Stoppel appreciates Elmore sharing his statement and wishes him the best.
“I appreciate his attitude and his respect in the courtroom,” said Stoppel. “I hope and I pray that he can learn from this as he stated in there. I do want him to have what life is in front of him, I do believe in second chances.”
Elmore also spoke on the importance of school staff building relationships with students. he believes the relationship he had with Elmore prevented the shooting from impacting more people.
“Something I hope can be part of the conversation moving forward here and across the nation is the power of positive relationships between adults and children in schools,” said Stoppel. “Officer Clark had a relationship with Jaylon. I had a relationship with Jaylon. I cared deeply about him, as I would many students. I desperately believe that it was because of that relationship combined with the training and the strategy and the experience that s go through that is what allowed us to peacefully to the office, that it allowed us to peacefully have a conversation, and that allowed us to the point where unfortunately it escalated as it did, but that was done by intent in a secured spot where only four people were impacted.
“I just want the community to know that s, teachers, staff in schools they work very, very hard. School resource officers work very hard to establish very positive relationships. It’s not just because it’s good for kids, but it’s also protecting our kids.”
Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe says he is pleased with the outcome, saying all the victims agreed on the sentence.
“We were able to get a resolution,” said Howe. “No individuals lost their lives, which I think is extremely important and now is the time for healing.”
Elmore’s attorney Carl Cornwell disagrees with the sentence.
“I think he should have been convicted of really what I think he did: aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. With his criminal history, probably about 90, 100, 120 months.”
Cornwell added he believes Elmore has learned from this.
“He’s really a good guy,” said Cornwell. “He just doesn’t have the tools, but he’s a good guy.”
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