NEWS 28 - The Federal Crimes Investigation Service, Presidential Protective Service and North Lorray Highway Patrol have all released their findings in the October 2024 Assassination Attempt On Jay Laylin, and issued that the shooter was mentally ill at the time of the shooting. They say that the suspect had a long history with mental illness, and the mental illness alone was the root cause of the attempted assassination.
"We have discovered that the shooter, now identified as 19 year Alex Grashoch, had a long history of mental illness," said FCIS Director Barry Wilkenson. "He had been in mental hospitals at least six times prior to this incident. In addition, he was hospitalized 8 times for cutting his wrists and other parts of his body. He was arrested twice, for 2 mental episodes where he stripped naked in several stores. Access to firearms was made possible because his parents were hunters. The parents were cleared of wrongdoing because they had taken the necessary precautions to prevent him from getting the firearms. The investigation also concluded that he had used a high pressure water cutter to gain access to the safe. We believe that had he been in a better mindset and lacked the mental illness, he most definitely would not have attempted to kill the then President-Elect."
The suspect had been the valedictorian candidate for his local high school, and his teachers and classmates said that he was a genuinely caring dude who had "dark demons," and expressed their grief at his loss, and were thankful that the president was not killed that "very dark day."
"He was just like any other kid," said Terry Shoup, a friend of Grashoch. "He was kind, caring, loved his friends, and more importantly loved his family. It breaks my heart that he suffered alone and died as a result of his mental illness. I think about his family everyday and think about the grief they are dealing with right now. He was not in his right mind when he pulled the trigger that cost him his life. Mental illness is a horrible thing. May he rest in peace."
Teachers from across the school district expressed their sincerest shock and condolences to the Grashoch family for their "unimaginable loss." They remembered Grashoch as a kind, caring and loving student and friend.
"He was just one of the sweetest kids in the world," said Michelle Divett, Grashoch's 11th Grade Physics teacher. "He was always eager to help whenever and whoever he could. The pain in my heart of knowing he silently suffered alone absolutely crushes me, and will for the rest of my life. He was such a bright light in this world full of darkness and his absence will be felt throughout this community. My prayers are with his family while they navigate this horrible loss."
Others in the community, including his pastor, who Grashoch confided in, broke down in tears as he remembers the teen. The two had built a strong friendship during his time with the church and the pastor grew concerned after not seeing him in church for the last few months.
"I didn't think anything of it at first, because he would usually come in one or twice a month, but I became increasing concerned for his safety when he didn't show up at all after December 2, 2024," said Pastor Garrett Craig. "What I know now, it just breaks my heart that he felt he couldn't tell me the demons he was fighting. He was a beautiful soul lost way to soon."
Pastor Craig honored the late teen with a special prayer service where hundreds of members of Grashoch's community came together to remember and honor the short but fulfilling life of Alex Grashoch.
"We have found that Alex Grashoch had been suffering from sever mental disorders and that is what led to the shooting that could have cost the Jay Laylin his life," said PPS director Gerald McFarland. "We are grateful the shooter didn't succeed in shooting Jay Laylin to death. We have been working very hard to come to a conclusive end of the investigation and we thank the FCIS and North Lorray Highway Patrol for their assistance in this investigation."