Kentucky High School Shooting Leaves 2 Dead, 17 Injured

BENTON, KY — A 15-year-old student armed with a handgun opened fire at Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky, shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday, leaving at two students dead and 17 others wounded, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin said at an afternoon news conference. The accused shooter, a male, was not injured when he was apprehended, Bevin said.

Of the 19 individuals who were injured, 14 were shot, Bevin said. One of the students, a 15-year-old girl, died at the scene, and a 15-year-old boy died later at the hospital, he said. The shooting at the western Kentucky high school was the first fatal school shooting of 2018.

The suspect, who wasn't named, will be charged with murder and attempted murder, authorities said.

"He was apprehended by the sheriff's department here on site, at the school, thankfully before any more lives could be taken," Lt. Michael Webb, public affairs commander for the Kentucky State Police, said at the news conference.

Police did not describe a motive, but Webb said detectives are looking into his home and background.

The student opened fire about 7:57 a.m., and authorities found the 15-year-old girl dead when they arrived shortly after 8a.m.

“It’s a tragic day for all of us,” State Police Commissioner Rick Sanders said. “I would just assure you of one thing: We in law enforcement will do our job and do it well, and we will pray for the families that are affected.”

Authorities did not disclose the suspect's name or the names of any of the victims. More information will be released as the investigation continues, authorities said. They believe the suspect acted alone.

In a statement earlier Tuesday, Bevin encouraged "people to love on each other at this time."

"This is a tremendous tragedy and speaks to the heartbreak present in our communities," he said. "It is unbelievable that this would happen in a small, close-knit community like Marshall County."

Students were just reporting to their first classes of the morning when the shooter opened fire.

Terrified students "were busting down the gates and fences just to get out," Shea Thompson, 26, of Benton, whose teenage siblings were inside the school when the shooting started, told NBC News.

"I'm distraught from all of it. I couldn't really focus driving home. I was shaking a lot driving back to my house. I'm still shaking," junior Greg Rodgers told the network. He arrived at school to see students racing from the building and toward a main road.

Students at the high school were bussed to North Marshall Middle School, where their parents were told to pick them up. They were not asked not to contact emergency dispatch officials or the board office. Students are secure, according to media reports.

The Marshall County Tribune-Courier reported that a student inside the school this morning heard shots ring out and saw two injured. Students ran from the scene and were eventually locked inside classrooms. The newspaper says parents were told not to try and pick up students from the school. As of 10 a.m. the school remained on lockdown. Two helicopters landed at the school.

Republican State Sen. Danny Carroll, who attended the school, called the shooting "horrific."

"I was heartbroken to hear of this horrific incident in Benton," he said in a statement. "Marshall County High School is my alma mater and that of many of my friends and family, many of whom still have children attending. This is a sad time for our close-knit community in Marshall County and my thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this senseless tragedy."

The FBI said on Twitter that it was assisting with responding to the shooting.

National PTA President Jim Accomando extended his condolences to the victims and their families, and said families and policymakers at all levels need to work together to prevent gun violence in schools and create a safe environment for children.

“Any act of violence at a school or involving children and youth is intolerable," Accomando said. "And no parent should fear for the safety of their child every time they leave home."

Marshall County is about 174 miles southwest of Louisville and about 20 miles southeast of Paducah. Marshall High School has about 1,400 students.

The school shooting was the second in as many days. A school shooting in Italy, Texas, Monday left a 15-year-old female student at the school injured and a 16-year-old male in police custody. The victim was taken by helicopter to a Dallas hospital. The suspect was apprehended within minutes of the shooting, Italy city officials said in a statement.

SCHOOL SHOOTING VIDEO: Video from The Marshall County Tribune-Courier shows chaotic scene at Marshall County High School after a shooter killed one and injured multiple. Details are still coming in. Check back for updates. pic.twitter.com/fCCu7AAFcc
— Kelsi Thorud (@KelsiThorud) January 23, 2018

This is a developing story. Stay with Patch and refresh your browser for the latest.

Dan Hampton of Patch's national staff contributed reporting.

AP Photo/Stephen Lance Dennee