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Suspect in custody after shooting at Indiana middle school

Posted at 9:51 AM, May 25, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-25 20:49:05-04

A student was taken into custody Friday after a shooting at a Noblesville, Indiana, middle school left three people injured, officials said.

Noblesville police Chief Kevin Jowitt told reporters that a teacher and a student were taken to hospitals with injuries from the shooting at Noblesville West Middle School. But hospital officials said at least three people, including one adult, were being treated. One student had an ankle fracture.

Jowitt said the shooting in the city of 60,000, about 25 miles northeast of Indianapolis, was reported shortly after 9 a.m.

A student asked for permission to leave the classroom and “he returned armed with two handguns,” Jowitt said at an afternoon news conference.

The situation was quickly resolved, and the student was arrested in or near the classroom, police public information officer Lt. Bruce Barnes said.

Jowitt said a secondary threat was received at Noblesville High School.

“We have multiple officers and a command post established at Noblesville High School and are diligently ensuring the safety of students and staff there,” he said. “We have not received any information that this has been anything other than a communicated threat.”

Barnes said police are seeking several search warrants in their investigation. Police don’t know the motive or where the guns came from, he said.

Authorities did not release the name of the suspect or the names and conditions of the injured people. However, the teacher was identified as Jason Seaman, 29, according to his aunt, Brenda Hubly-Sushka.

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb, who was returning from a trip to Europe, said in a statement that he was monitoring the situation and that about 100 Indiana State Police officers were made available to work with local authorities.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this horrible situation,” his statement said.

Vice President Mike Pence tweeted, “Karen and I are praying for the victims of the terrible shooting in Indiana. To everyone in the Noblesville community — you are on our hearts and in our prayers. Thanks for the swift response by Hoosier law enforcement and first responders.”

The middle school was on lockdown part of the morning, said Jackie Chatteron, a receptionist for the school district. Aerial news video showed rows of students being evacuated and escorted to school buses.

Students were taken to Noblesville High for parents to pick up, state police said.

June 1 is the last day of classes, according to the school’s website.

The shooting comes a week after 10 people were killed at a school in Santa Fe, Texas.

There have been 23 school shootings where someone was hurt or killed so far this year— an average of more than one shooting a week.

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