US teenager holds classmates hostage
Source: Agencies |
December 1, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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TRAPPED in their classroom with a student gunman, a group of terrified American teens in Wisconsin worked desperately to keep their captor calm by chatting and laughing with him about hunting and fishing.
The 15-year-old gunman eventually shot himself as police stormed the room at Marinette High School hours later on Monday evening, and he was hospitalized with a potentially life-threatening wound.
The teenager allowed five of his hostages out after about 6 1/2 hours, and finally all 23 and their teacher emerged unharmed.
Student hostage Zach Campbell said the gunman seemed depressed, but didn't think he meant his classmates any harm. "I didn't know really what to think. I was just hoping to get out alive," Campbell said yesterday on CBS television. "He didn't want to shoot any of us."
Campbell said six of the gunman's close friends were in that class.
Authorities also said they did not know what might have motivated the boy who made no demands or requests during the standoff.
"As far as what caused this, it seems to be a mystery," Marinette Police Chief Jeff Skorik said early yesterday. "We have not been able to identify anything that precipitated this incident."
Skorik said the suspect fired three shots immediately before police entered the room, but he had also fired at least two or three shots before that. He shot into a wall, a desk and equipment in the room, but he was not aiming at any students, Skorik said. The shooter was carrying a 9mm semi-automatic and a .22 caliber semi-automatic, and he had additional ammunition in his pocket and a duffel bag with more bullets was found at the scene, the chief said. He said it was not clear where the boy got the weapons or how he sneaked them into school.
The gunman, whose name was not released, was in a nearby hospital.
Skorik said the district attorney was reviewing the case and would decide whether to file any charges.
Marinette, a city of about 12,000 people, lies about 80 kilometers north of Green Bay. About 800 students attend the high school.
The 15-year-old gunman eventually shot himself as police stormed the room at Marinette High School hours later on Monday evening, and he was hospitalized with a potentially life-threatening wound.
The teenager allowed five of his hostages out after about 6 1/2 hours, and finally all 23 and their teacher emerged unharmed.
Student hostage Zach Campbell said the gunman seemed depressed, but didn't think he meant his classmates any harm. "I didn't know really what to think. I was just hoping to get out alive," Campbell said yesterday on CBS television. "He didn't want to shoot any of us."
Campbell said six of the gunman's close friends were in that class.
Authorities also said they did not know what might have motivated the boy who made no demands or requests during the standoff.
"As far as what caused this, it seems to be a mystery," Marinette Police Chief Jeff Skorik said early yesterday. "We have not been able to identify anything that precipitated this incident."
Skorik said the suspect fired three shots immediately before police entered the room, but he had also fired at least two or three shots before that. He shot into a wall, a desk and equipment in the room, but he was not aiming at any students, Skorik said. The shooter was carrying a 9mm semi-automatic and a .22 caliber semi-automatic, and he had additional ammunition in his pocket and a duffel bag with more bullets was found at the scene, the chief said. He said it was not clear where the boy got the weapons or how he sneaked them into school.
The gunman, whose name was not released, was in a nearby hospital.
Skorik said the district attorney was reviewing the case and would decide whether to file any charges.
Marinette, a city of about 12,000 people, lies about 80 kilometers north of Green Bay. About 800 students attend the high school.
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