Authorities in the eastern U.S. state of West Virginia said Tuesday that a 14-year-old male student with a pistol had held several students and a teacher hostage earlier at a high school in the state. The school was placed on lockdown while teachers and administrators evacuated, counted and sent home all other students.
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Police added that they are working to take the individual into custody.
At about 3:30 p.m., the suspect reportedly surrendered and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Ben Queen/AP A West Virginia State Police officer speaks with parents near the school.
Students were finally taken off school grounds by bus or picked up by their parents around 4 p.m. Even as they were leaving, the full impact of the situation hadn’t sunk in for some students. Poling said that because the case involves a juvenile, the court process would be closed. No injuries were reported and officials say the school was evacuated.
Classes at the high school started back on August 13, according to the district’s website.
They say buses are on the way to school to pick the students up.
Baylous says he has no details or description of the suspect, saying it was someone believed to have a gun. Saltis said by phone that his daughter attends the school and that “a lot” was going through his mind while he waited for her to head home.
It was the ninth day of the new school year in Philippi, a town with a population of 3000 about 185km (115 miles) south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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After initial negotiations, the suspect agreed to release the students and teacher, then eventually put the gun down and surrendered without further incident, Baylous said. But Saltis says law enforcement officials told him nothing while the suspect was still in the school.
