Freeman High School Shooting: Student Tried To Stop Shooter

ROCKFORD, WA — The student who died in a shooting at Freeman High School in rural Eastern Washington Wednesday morning was likely trying to stop the shooter, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said after the shooting. The gunman was later taken into custody, but not before wounding at least three other people.

The shooting was first reported around 10:15 a.m. Wednesday at the high school, which is located in rural Rockford about 20 miles south of Spokane. The student entered the building with two weapons, Knezovich said, but one of the guns jammed.

The Spokane Spokesman-Review identified the shooter as Caleb Sharpe, a sophomore. The shooting occurred on the second floor of the high school outside a biology classroom.

As the shooting unfolded, some students were taken to nearby schools for protection. One student at the school posted on Twitter that she had heard at least four shots. The student, Christina, a junior, said she and other students were taken to the nearby Freeman Elementary School.

The shooting stopped after a custodian at the school ordered the student to stop, the Associated Press reported Wednesday night.

By noon Wednesday, police had cleared the school and began allowing students to be reunited with students. The district canceled school on Thursday.

Washington State Patrol spokesman Trooper Jeff Sevigney tweeted Wednesday that he had children at the school - and he had to respond to the shooting.

Gov. Jay Inslee issued a statement about the shooting on Twitter calling it "heartbreaking."

"This morning’s shooting at Freeman High School is heartbreaking. All Washingtonians are thinking of the victims and their families," Inslee said. "We’re grateful for the service of school staff and first responders working to keep our students safe."

According to the group Everytown, which researches gun violence in schools, the Rockford shooting was the 30th school shooting in the U.S. in 2017.

Image via Freeman School District