The Brewster County Sheriff’s Office told of the 14 year old female student brining a semi automatic pistol ‘with plenty of ammunition’ to school and shooting another female in the band hall bathroom before fatally turning the gun on herself.
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The shooting sparked campus-wide lockdowns at Alpine’s three schools, as well as nearby Sul Ross State University. They said they don’t believe there was a connection between the threats and the shooting at the high school. No names have been released and no motive has been given for the incident in the town of about 6,000 people, Sheriff Ronny Dodson said.
In the confusion that followed, numerous law enforcement officers rushed to the scene and a United States marshal accidentally shot a Homeland Security agent, Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson said.
Her grandparents described her as a diligent student and said there were no signs that she was troubled, he added.
“I wish to extend prayers and sympathy to any victims’ families and their loved ones who have been affected by this senseless act of violence”.
There was also a threatening note left at a motel in Marathon, Texas, about 30 miles east of Alpine.
While police were clearing the school, Dodson said a U.S. Marshal’s weapon accidentally discharged and wounded an officer in the leg.
All schools and administration buildings were put in lockdown.
Law enforcement officials were also dealing with a series of bomb threats made in the wake of the shooting.
BigBendNow.com first reported the active shooter alert at about 9:40 a.m. local time. The sheriff says the alleged shooter later died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and that a gun was found nearby.
Student Taylor Hunt told CBS 7: ‘We all thought that Alpine would be a place where [this] wouldn’t happen and then it did happen.’ .
After a time, a law enforcement officer banged on the classroom door and ushered the students out, she said.
Eldred didn’t immediately provide additional information, other than the person being sought was a male.
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The Alpine Independent School District website says the town of about 5,900 residents has three schools – elementary, middle and a high school.
