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At least three people, including the suspected gunman, were killed Monday morning at a Missouri high school, police officials said.
The shooting took place at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis, according to… district officials.
Lieutenant Colonel Michel Sack, commissioner of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, confirmed that an adult and a woman were among the victims of the tragedy.
“A grown woman was pronounced at a local hospital, I believe that came from gunfire,” Sack said.
“We have one more teenage woman here on the scene, she’s also spoken out as a result of injuries she sustained from gunfire,” he continued.
In addition to the deaths, Sack said at a news conference that there were eight transports to nearby hospitals as a result of the incident.
It’s unclear how many of those taken to hospital had injuries resulting from gunfire, only that they suffered from “a variety of” problems, “from trampling injuries to gunshots.”
Earlier, the district had reported that only two people had been shot and taken to hospital.
This was the scene outside Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis Monday morning after a gunman opened fire, killing two people
Police were seen pulling students who ran away from the school after a man opened fire
Students were less than four hours into the school day when they were evacuated due to an active gunman in the building
A flurry of police cars was spotted outside the Missouri school Monday morning
Armed officers approached the scene with caution after an unknown suspect shot two students. District officials said officers were able to quickly stop the gunman
The police officer said officers were called to the school around 9:00 am and responded within minutes.
Sack said that as students ran out of the building, several officers told police that the suspect was inside and carrying a “long gun.”
“As kids fled the building, they spoke to some kids who told them there was a gunman armed with a long rifle,” Sack said at the news conference.
The officers then entered the school, found the gunman and shot and killed the suspect, he continued.
“There was a firefight” after the officers located the suspect, the commissioner said.
He also said it’s unclear at this time how the suspect got in.
“The doors were locked,” Sack said.
During the press conference after the shooting, district officials also spoke, telling the media they are working with the victims’ families and expressing their condolences.
The suspect has not been positively identified at this time.
“This is a day of tragedy,” said Dr. Kelvin R. Adams, Superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools.
“I’m stressed and devastated, I’m heartbroken for these families,” said a school district official. “Our kids shouldn’t be going through this.”
The group also praised the quick work of the officers who “ran for that gunfire” in the school.
“I do believe that quick actions have saved lives,” said one police officer.
Students outside the school were seen comforting each other after an unidentified gunman broke into the building and shot two people.
In addition to the murdered adult and the female student, police confirmed eight other transports were made to nearby hospitals. However, police have not confirmed how many of those injuries were related to the gunfire
“Police are on the scene at Central Visual and Performing Arts this morning following reports of an active gunman and both CVPA and Collegiate are on lockdown,” St. Louis Public Schools tweeted Monday morning.
The post from the district states that the “shooter was quickly stopped by police within CVPA.”
The two students who were shot dead were taken to hospital immediately after the incident.
Their condition is unknown at this time.
As of just before 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, officials were still evacuating students from the school.
Those students were taken to ‘safe’ sites.
“We will send information about where parents can reunite with students,” the district said.
Students were evacuated from school on Monday after a gunman entered the building and injured two children
Panicked students and staff ran to police and paramedics at the scene where two students were shot
The school district asked officials Monday to avoid the area from S. King’s Highway to Arsenal Street “until further notice.”
“This investigation is still ongoing.”
This is a story in development. Check back for updates as they become available.