advertisement

The Latest: School shooting suspect fired several shots

ITALY, Texas (AP) - The Latest on a shooting at a Texas high school (all times local):

2:45 p.m.

Officials say a 16-year-old suspect in a Texas high school shooting "engaged the victim" and fired several shots from a handgun before being confronted by a school district staffer and fleeing.

Ellis County Sheriff Chuck Edge didn't say how many times the 15-year-old victim was shot Monday at Italy High School. Authorities have said the girl was airlifted to a Dallas hospital.

Edge says both students attended the school in the tiny town of Italy, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Dallas.

Edge says the male suspect fired a semi-automatic .380 handgun. The teen fled the cafeteria after the confrontation with a staffer but was arrested by law enforcement on school grounds.

Edge says a possible motive is unclear. He also says he doesn't yet know what charges the suspect might face.

Italy Independent School District Superintendent Lee Joffre says that school will be held Tuesday and grief counselors would be on campus.

___

11:10 a.m.

Authorities don't know if a 16-year-old Texas boy arrested in a high school shooting knows the 15-year-old girl who was airlifted to a hospital after the attack.

Sgt. Joe Fitzgerald of the Ellis County Sheriff's Office says he doesn't know how many students were in the Italy High School cafeteria when the shooting happened there Monday morning.

Fitzgerald and school district superintendent Lee Joffre said at a news conference that they don't know the relationship between the boy and girl. Neither knows the girl's condition.

Joffre says the 16-year-old boy left the building immediately after opening fire. He would not say whether the boy has had disciplinary issues at the school.

Joffre says the district is working to reunite parents with their children.

___

10:20 a.m.

Authorities say a 15-year-old female student has been airlifted to a hospital after being shot at a Texas high school and a 16-year-old male student is in custody.

Sgt. Joe Fitzgerald of the Ellis County Sheriff's Office says the female student was airlifted to a hospital in Dallas following the shooting early Monday in the small town of Italy (IT-lee), 45 miles (70 kilometers) south of Dallas.

He said he had no information on her condition.

The sheriff's office says students have been moved from the school and an investigation is ongoing.

A sheriff's office dispatcher, Debra Murray, said the shooting took place at Italy High School.

A message left with the school district was not immediately returned.

___

This item has been corrected to show the sheriff's official is called Sgt. Joe Fitzgerald, not Sgt. Joe Fitz Fitzgerald.

___

9:15 a.m.

Sheriff's officials say there's been a shooting at a high school in a small town south of Dallas and a suspect is in custody.

The Ellis County sheriff's office said on Twitter that the "shooter is in custody" after the shooting early Monday at the school in Italy (IT-lee), some 45 miles (70 kilometers) south of Dallas.

No injuries have been confirmed in the shooting.

The sheriff's office says students have been moved from the school and an investigation is ongoing.

A sheriff's office dispatcher, Debra Murray, said the shooting took place at Italy High School. Murray declined to release additional details.

A message left with the school district was not immediately returned.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.