UPDATE: Two students, one adult custodian shot at Rigby Middle School; news conference at 4 p.m.
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FOR THE LATEST UPDATE CLICK HERE: School shooter could face attempted murder charges; doctor says condition of victims is an ‘absolute blessing’
UPDATE:
Jefferson County Sheriff Steve Anderson and Jefferson County School District Superintendent Chad Martin will hold a news conference about the shooting at 4 p.m. Thursday at the school district office.
Initial reports given to EastIdahoNews.com by law enforcement identified the suspect as male. However, since then multiple sources have said that information is incorrect and identified the suspect as a female student.
Rigby Middle School sixth-grader Lucy Long retraced the ordeal to IdahoEdnew.org, she said she heard gunshots near her classroom around 9 a.m., followed by loud bangs on the door. Someone locked the door and turned out the lights, while students hid against the wall.
Long, who flashed an audio recording of the ordeal, hoped to capture some of what happened inside the classroom, so “police, teachers and parents would know what happened if something bad happened.”
More information about the suspect is expected to be released later this afternoon.
ORIGINAL:
RIGBY — Three people were shot at Rigby Middle School on Thursday morning, Jefferson County Sheriff Steve Anderson confirmed to EastIdahoNews.com.
Two of the injured people are students, and one was an adult custodian, Anderson said. The injuries do not appear critical, he said.
It’s not clear exactly what happened; however, the school district did confirm it was an active shooter situation.
Anderson says one student is in custody.
Idaho Falls Fire Department spokeswoman Kerry Hammon confirms three people are being transported by ambulance to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. They are all in stable condition, she said.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are on the scene.
Middle School students were evacuated to Rigby High School, where parents have been picking them up. Rigby Middle School has about 1,500 students in sixth through eighth grades, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
There are still many students at the school, and officials are requesting snacks, bottled water, etc. from residents. Do not take food to the school. Please deliver them to the Upper Valley Child Advocacy Center at 162 N Yellowstone Highway. They will get the food to students.
Students that are not picked up will be bussed home.
Gov. Brad Little tweeted the following message about the situation.
“I am praying for the lives and safety of those involved in today’s tragic events,” Little said. “Thank you to our law enforcement agencies and school leaders for their efforts in responding to the incident. I am staying updated on the situation.”
Also issuing a statement on the shooting was Sherri Ybarra, the state’s superintendent of public instruction, who said, “My prayers are with those injured this morning at Rigby Middle School. Patience will need to be at a premium while school officials and law enforcement agencies investigate the situation. The (Idaho Education Association) and our local education associations are ready, willing, and able to provide whatever support is needed for the staff, students, and community impacted by today’s act of violence.”
I am monitoring the heartbreaking events in Rigby today and my heart goes out to all of those involved in this tragedy. To the first responders and our heroic teachers and faculty who are keeping our children safe, thank you. https://t.co/CjZqWic5Ug
— Cong. Mike Simpson (@CongMikeSimpson) May 6, 2021
The attack appears to be Idaho’s second school shooting. In 1999, a student at a high school in Notus fired a shotgun several times. The bullets struck no one, but one student was injured by ricocheting debris from the first shell, according to The Associated Press.
Additionally, in 1989, a 14-year-old boy was in custody after he pulled a gun at Rigby Junior High School, threatened a teacher and students and took a 14-year-old girl hostage, the Deseret News reported.
EastIdahoNews.com is on the scene and will have more details as we learn more.
