An armed student has died in a shooting with police on Monday after he opened fired at an officer responding to a call for help at the Austin-East Magnet High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced.
“It’s a sad day for Knoxville, and it’s tough for Austin-East,” TBI Director David B. Rausch, a former Knoxville police chief, told reporters.
The student died at the scene and the officer was wounded in the upper leg and taken into surgery at a local hospital, authorities said at a press conference late Monday. No one else was hurt.
The person fired shots and hit an officer as the officers entered the restroom, police said. One officer shot back and fatally wounded the armed subject.
“The subject was pronounced dead at the scene and has since been identified as a student. The officer who was shot was transported to a local hospital for treatment,” the announcement reads.
“The TBI does not identify the officers involved in these types of incidents and, instead, refer questions of that nature to their respective department to answer as it sees fit.”
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon told WATE-TV earlier in the day that she spoke with the wounded officer and that he was conscious and in good spirits.
Gov. Bill Lee mentioned the shooting at a news conference following the incident.
“I just wanted to make reference to that and ask, for those who are watching, online or otherwise, to pray for that situation and for the families and the victims that might be affected by that in our state,” he said.
Lee said on Twitter late Monday, “A tragic situation unfolded at Austin-East Magnet High School today. We mourn the loss of life and commend law enforcement for their rapid response. We offer our full support to @TBI as they investigate this situation further.”
