Multiple victims reported – including a police officer – after a shooting at a Knoxville high school
One student is shot dead after he opened fire on cop in Knoxville high school – officer is injured but expected to survive
- Shooting took place Monday at Austin-East Magnet School in Tennessee
- School was placed on lockdown; a reunification site for parents has been set up
- Students not involved in incident have been released to their parents
- The police officer who was shot was reportedly the Austin-East school resource officer; he is being treated for his injuries at an area hospital
A student was shot dead by police at a Knoxville high school in Tennessee on Monday after police responded to a report of a person with a gun and were fired upon by the boy, officials said.
The boy, who hasn’t been named, was in the school bathroom when police arrived to the scene. When the officers entered the restroom, the boy fired at the officers, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
One officer was injured and was taken to a hospital, but is expected to survive.
The incident took place at Austin-East Magnet High School at around 3pm local time.
A male suspect also had been taken into custody, but it’s not clear if he also is a student, Knox News reported.
One person has been shot dead and a police officer injured at a Knoxville high school in Tennessee on Monday. The incident took place at Austin-East Magnet High School
Multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, converged on the site after the Knoxville Police Department tweeted about the shooting shortly before 4pm.
Police said in a statement: ‘A KPD officer was shot at least one time and transported to the UT Medical Center with injuries that are not expected to be life-threatening.
‘One male was pronounced dead at the scene, while another was detained for further investigation. There are no other known gunshot victims at this time.’
Police said they had been called to a report of a ‘male subject who was possibly armed at the school’ adding: ‘Upon approach of the subject, shots were fired.’
Large number of police officers and first responders arrived on the scene after 3pm
Officials have set up a reunification site for parent and students behind the school
Knox County Schools spokeswoman Carly Harrington said the school was placed on lockdown as a precaution. The scene has since been labeled secure.
A source speaking to Knox News on condition of anonymity said the situation was no longer ‘active’ as of Monday evening.
The police officer who was shot was reportedly the Austin-East school resource officer. He is being treated for his injuries at an area hospital.
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon told ABC the shot officer is in ‘good spirits’.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will be leading an investigation into the shooting, the Knoxville Police said, as is standard protocol for all shootings involving an officer.
WVLT reported that paramedics from the local fire department who arrived on the scene had to be shielded by police officers to administer first aid.
Police said a reunification site for parents to pick up their children has been established at the baseball field behind Austin-East High School near Wilson Avenue and Hembree Street.
‘The school building has been secured and students who were not involved in the incident have been released to their families,’ said KCS Superintendent Bob Thomas.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said during an unrelated press briefing that he is monitoring the situation closely, and asked the public for prayers.
A magnet school is a school with specialized courses or curricula that draws students from various school districts. Austin-East High School includes a magnet program in performing arts.
Police attend a shooting at Austin-East Magnet High School in Knoxville, Tennessee
Emergency vehicle, including an ambulance, is pictured at the scene of the school shooting on Monday afternoon in Knoxville. Initial reports had said multiple people had been shot
The school was the subject of media reports in February after three students were shot to death over a three-week span.
Those earlier shootings did not take place in the school, and administrators at the time said students felt the arts magnet school was a safe space, according to a story in the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Last week, Republican governor Lee signed off on legislation that would make Tennessee the latest state to soon allow most adults 21 and older to carry handguns – openly or concealed — without first clearing a background check and training.
The law, which does not apply to long guns, will take effect July 1.
