A shooting at a high school in St. Louis, Missouri, left at least three people dead Monday, including the shooter, Police Chief Michael Sack said.
At a news conference, Sack said the three dead were an adult, a minor and the assailant.
The sheriff said the gunman appeared to be in his 20s and reported that law enforcement officers arrived at the school “a couple of minutes” after receiving an “active shooter” report.
“Officers began clearing the building looking for the shooter,” the official said. “Hearing the gunshots, they ran towards those gunshots, located the shooter and engaged him in an exchange of fire.”
The San Luis police left a call through a tweet for citizens to collaborate with graphic material about what happened. “Do you have any photos or video of today’s shooting at Central VPA High School in St. Louis? [El] #FBI St. Louis and @SLMPD are asking for your help to send them here”.
The shooting was reported after 9 a.m. at the Visual and Performing Arts High School, prompting hundreds of students, faculty and staff to flee the building, many running. The school was immediately surrounded by dozens of patrol cars.
The FBI said in a statement that there was no longer an “immediate threat” at the school. Police and television networks at the site reported that among the six injured was one person who suffered cardiac arrest, and that the others suffered gunshot or shrapnel injuries. Chain KTVI reported that the assailant was among the wounded.
No further details about the injured were released.
One student, 16-year-old Taniya Gholston, told the St. Louis Post Dispatch that he was in a classroom when the aggressor entered.
“All I heard was two shots and he came in with a gun,” Gholston said. “I was trying to run but I couldn’t. We made eye contact but I managed to get out because his gun jammed. But we saw blood on the floor,” he added.
Another student, Nylah Jones, a ninth grader, told the post-dispatch that he was in math class when the assailant shot into the classroom from the hallway. The shooter was unable to get into the classroom and banged on the door as students crowded into a corner, he said.
TV reports said officers entered the area with guns shortly after 9 a.m. Crime tape was posted around the school and some parents came to pick up children and check if they were safe. The district tweeted that students could be picked up at another school building or a nearby grocery store.
[Con información de Associated Press, Agence France Press y la policía de San Luis]
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