A sixth grade girl is now in custody after shooting three people at her Idaho middle school. The unnamed student from Idaho Falls is said to have opened fire at Rigby Middle School on Thursday, injuring two students and a custodian before being disarmed by a teacher. That teacher held the student until police arrived and arrested the girl, according to a statement made by Jefferson County Sheriff Steve Anderson and reported by Reuters.
- Police were called to the school shortly after 9:15 am. Authorities received several reports of gunshots being fired at the school by students and staff. Soon after, multiple law enforcement agencies reported to the scene and helped evacuate students to a local high school where their parents were waiting. All schools in the district were closed soon after and Rigby plans to make counselors available from Friday. “Today we had the worst nightmare a school district could encounter,” said Jefferson school district superintendent Chad Martin.
- The commotion was confusing and terrifying for students. “Me and my classmate were just in class with our teacher, we were doing work, and then all of a sudden, here was a loud noise and then there were two more loud noises. Then there was screaming,” 12-year-old Yandel Rodriguez said. “Our teacher went to check it out, and he found blood.”
- At the present time, authorities are investigating the student’s motives. “She fired multiple rounds inside of the school and out,” Sheriff Anderson said at a news conference. “We don’t have a lot of details of why. That is being investigated.” In addition, Idaho governor Brad Little issued a statement of support for the Rigby community. “I am praying for the lives and safety of those involved in today’s tragic events. Thank you to our law enforcement agencies and school leaders for their efforts in responding to the incident.”
- All three victims are expected to live. Thankfully, none of the shootings were fatal, with all three victims receiving wounds to their extremities. Dr Michael Lemon, the trauma medical director at Eastern Idaho regional medical center, said that the custodian had been treated and discharged, while the two students who were injured were being kept in the hospital overnight and one might require surgery. It’s believed that one of the students may have been shot twice as they had two wounds.
