Three people were killed and others were injured in a shooting incident at a St. Louis area school on Monday, including a suspect and two victims who have since died.
At a press conference, St. Louis Police Lt Col. Mike Sack said officers responded to a call at around 9:10 a.m. CST. Sack said officers arrived at the scene “within a couple minutes of the call” and “immediately made entry into the school.”
Sack said officers spoke with fleeing students who said the shooter had an unspecified “long gun.” Officers were able to locate the suspect shortly thereafter and wound him in an exchange of gunfire. Sack said the suspect was taken to an area hospital but has since been pronounced deceased.
Sack then said “we have eight individuals from the school who were transported to local hospitals” including the suspect and seven victims. Sack said one woman who was hospitalized has since been “pronounced at a local hospital, I believe that was from gunfire.” Sack said another teenage female remaining at the school has “also been pronounced as a result of wounds she received from gunfire.”
Sack said the other victims had injuries that included gunshots and wounds from shrapnel.
Police initially told KSDK at least one person experienced a cardiac arrest during the incident.
Sack identified the suspect as being an approximately 20-year-old male. He said investigators have not yet positively identified the suspect to determine his potential relation to the school.
There is still a heavy law enforcement presence at the school. Sack said the school was initially searched by responding officers and then a SWAT team and a bomb-sniffing dog. Sack said police believe there are no additional threats at this time.
Police have also located a suspect vehicle, which Sack said they will search after the department’s bomb squad checks the vehicle.
Police have asked people to avoid the area on S. Kingshighway Blvd. from Southwest Ave. to Arsenal St. until further notice.
“At this time, the scene is secure and there is no active threat,” the St. Louis Police Department tweeted at 10:45 a.m. CST. “A news conference will be held soon.”
Sack said the school was locked, which slowed the suspect and gave officers additional time to respond. Sack did not say how the suspect gained entry into the school.
St. Louis Public Schools superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams said there were also seven security officers present at the schools entryways on Monday. He did not specify whether the security officers were armed. An official at the St. Louis Public Schools Safety and Security Department said they were “not at liberty” to say whether the guards present at the school were armed when contacted by American Military News.
Sack said that after the suspected gained entry into the school, officers located and stopped the man in a third floor classroom.
