Two Students Killed in Kentucky School Shooting
A 15-year old male student at Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky, opened fire shortly before 9am yesterday, killing two fellow students.
According to the Kentucky State Police, a 15-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl, died. 17 others were injured, according to reports, though not all appear to be from gunshot wounds.
The shooter is currently in custody and Kentucky law enforcement officials have announced he will likely be charged as an adult with murder and attempted murder. No specific motives have been released
Ky. Governor Matt Bevin rushed from the capitol to be at the scene. He tweeted:
Tragic shooting at Marshall County HS…Shooter is in custody, one confirmed fatality, multiple others wounded…Much yet unknown…Please do not speculate or spread hearsay…Let’s let the first responders do their job and be grateful that they are there to do it for us…
— Governor Matt Bevin (@GovMattBevin) January 23, 2018
Kentucky State Police Commissioner Richard Sanders said during a press conference that the suspect entered the school at 7:57 a.m. and soon opened fire with a handgun. Sanders said the first 911 call came in two minutes later, and police were on scene by 8:06 a.m.
Onlookers reported that the school grounds were frenzied with parents looking for their teenagers. Many students were witnessed to be panicking and screaming, according to Newsday.
Authorities are planning to release the name of the shooter once he is indicted.
This incident marks the fatal school shooting of the new year. There was a school shooting in Texas on Monday, in which a 15-year old girl was wounded, but she is expected to make a full recovery. A 16-year old male is expected to be charged as a juvenile with aggravated assault, officials said.
