Readers this is information I’m passing on to you in case you did not hear that Fox News.Com has just reported authorities in Oregon have stated a gunman entered a high school outside of Portland Tuesday morning and fatally shot a student before he was killed himself.
The situation has been stabilized at Reynolds High School in Troutdale according to a statement by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
The chief of the Troutdale Police Department, Scott Anderson, has confirmed the deaths and he continued to call the events a “tragic day” for the community. How the shooter actually died authorities are not saying.
Police responded to reports of shots fired at the school according to the Sheriff’s office at 8:07 a.m. local time.
The Associated Press reported that students told them they were informed via the intercom system there was a lock-down at the school and to go quietly to their classrooms.
A vice principal from the school’s wife stated that she had received a text message from her husband which said there was an active shooter at the school, according to KPTV.
KOIN 6 reported there are more than 100 police and sheriff’s units reportedly at the scene including medical personnel and the FBI.
Fox News was told that SWAT teams were evacuating classrooms one at a time according to the Mayor of Troutdale, Doug Daoust. The Associated Press reported that TV news broadcasts showed students with their hands on their heads being escorted out and away from the school.
A physical education teacher at the school had a bloodied shirt according to a freshman Daniel DeLong, 14, and he also said, he had witnessed it while waiting after the shooting.
Delong said, “I’m a little shaken up and I’m worried,” telling the Associated Press; and he continued he was texting friends to see if they were okay…it happened so fast.”
A freshman Morgan Rose, 15, stated that she hunkered down in a locker room with another student and two teachers; and saying, “It was scary at the moment but knowing everything is okay I’m feeling better.”
Authorities are advising all people who are “not” involved to stay out of the area; and for parents to reunite with their students at the Wood Village Fred Meyer supermarket. An Oregonian reporter located at the supermarket, tweeted employees was bringing out water and cookies for parents.
Approximately 2,800 students attend the school, according to Q13 Fox reports.
The superintendent of Reynolds District, Linda Florence, stated that this is a day “one I’d hoped would never ever be a part of my experience.”
The Troutdale area is a quiet tourist town of approximately 15,000 people near the Columbia River, and it’s about 16 miles east of downtown Portland.
There will be more information released about the shooting at a news conference which is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET according to authorities.
Barbara Kasey Smith wrote this article based on a Fox News Report and an Associated Press report.
Source:
(1) Fox News
(2) Associated Press Report