ONE person is dead and a police officer was wounded after authorities responded to reports of a possible gunman at a Tennessee high school. No one else was killed or wounded, according to officials. Where is Austin-East High School? Austin-East Magnet High School is located in Knoxville, a city about 180 miles east of Nashville. […]
ONE person is dead and a police officer was wounded after authorities responded to reports of a possible gunman at a Tennessee high school.
No one else was killed or wounded, according to officials.
Austin-East Magnet High School is located in Knoxville, a city about 180 miles east of Nashville.
The school is not far from the city’s zoo and Interstate 40.
A map of the neighborhood shows the school is in a residential area near some churches.
Knoxville has a population of about 186,173.
Police said they responded to the school around 3:15 pm on April 12 and when they encountered a male with a gun, shots were fired.
“A Knoxville Police officer was struck at least one time and transported to the hospital with injuries that are not expected to be life-threatening,” police said in a statement.
The Facebook post said a male died at the school.
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon told TV station WATE that she spoke with the wounded officer and that he was conscious and in good spirits.
Bob Thomas, the superintendent of Knox County Schools, confirmed a shooting had occurred but the building had been secured.
“The school building has been secured and students who were not involved in the incident have been released to their families,” Thomas said.
He added that authorities were gathering information and about “this tragic situation” and that additional information would be provided later.
Three students from Austin-East Magnet High School have been shot to death away from the campus less than three weeks apart this year, according to police.
“This is the fourth unnecessary shooting involving the Austin East community this year and we must make sure we take every step and make every effort to prevent these tragedies from continuing to occur,” State Representative Sam McKenzie said in a statement.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said it was sending agents to the school.
