STEUBENVILLE - Pindrops could be heard in the silence of Steubenville High School in the wake of a fire that claimed the life of Lee West.
West, 15, was found dead inside his home after a Tuesday evening fire that investigators from the state fire marshal's office believe started in the kitchen of the two-story, wood-frame house at 316 Virginia Ave.
Now, a palpable sadness can be felt walking through the halls of the high school, as students write messages of love, friendship and remembrance beside pictures of West's life on a memorial located in the main hall that reads "A tribute to Lee, gone but never forgotten."
"I've been here 25 years and yesterday (Wednesday) was the quietest and saddest day at Big Red I've ever experienced," said Anthony Pierro, teacher and freshman basketball coach.
"It's hard. I lost a brother," said Malik Richmond, a lifelong friend and fellow ninth-grader.
City fire crews were called around 5:41 p.m. on Tuesday and found the home consumed with heavy fire. Firefighters said that upon arrival they were told by neighbors that they didn't believe anyone was in the residence, but later received information that there may be three people inside the burning home.
Firefighters were only able to account for two.
"I found out that his house was on fire a little after 5:30 p.m. I was just getting home and I got back back in my car and drove straight over. I kept asking myself where he was. Someone told me that he was dead (inside the home) and I just kept asking if they were sure. It felt like I was just waiting for him to come around the corner," said Pierro.
"I found out in the locker room before our freshman basketball game. A teammate said that his house was on fire so I just ran over and when I got there his dad was outside crying and he thought that Lee was in the house. I tried calling him and he wasn't answering and I knew something was wrong. I just kept calling and calling," said Richmond.
But now Pierro says that students of the school have come together and put aside their differences to remember West. He said that he is amazed at the strength and unity he is witnessing following the fire.
The one thing Pierro says he remembers most about West was his strength of character.
"Just the other day he was in my room telling me that he wanted to become an engineer. Most kids playing basketball are thinking they'll go pro, but he was thinking along the right track. It shows a lot of character, and speaks to who raised him," said Pierro.
"He was always serious, but he liked to joke," said Richmond.
It wasn't just care he took with his own life, however, but also in his dealings with others, especially younger kids.
"I have a 12-year-old boy and when he would come with me to practice Lee would teach him moves. That says a lot to me when I see older kids helping out the young. It shows me what kind of person he was," said Pierro.
"Lee was a good person. He always helped me when I needed it and he'd do anything for anybody," said Richmond.
"He had a lot to offer. It's a big loss to the world," said Pierro.
