One Student Dead And Another Critically Injured After Shooting Outside Minnesota School

Two suspects have been arrested following a Richfield, Minnesota shooting that left one student dead and another critically injured. Richfield is about seven miles south of downtown Minneapolis. Police responded to South Education Center on Tuesday afternoon and found the two students on the sidewalk. Officials discovered that two students had been shot on the sidewalk outside of the school, Richfield Police Chief Jay Henthorne said, as per NBC News. The wounded students were taken to a local hospital, where one student died of his injuries. The other is in critical condition. As for the suspects, they reportedly fled "immediately," and area schools were locked down. After a search of South Education Center, police determined that "no further threat existed" and the lockdowns were lifted.

A news release from Richfield police revealed that officials have made the arrests after executing simultaneous search warrants at two different Minneapolis addresses shortly after 6 p.m. local time. A handgun was also discovered but it is unclear if it is the same one that was used during the shooting. "Officers are not looking for any additional suspects, but continue to process evidence related to the shooting," the release said, as per CNN.

"This is a tragic day in the city of Richfield," Police Chief Jay Henthorne said during a news conference earlier on Tuesday. "Our hearts are with the families, students, and the community impacted by this horrendous and tragic event," Henthorne added. The school has 200 students including pre-K students through young adults who attend special education and community programs. All of them were evacuated after the incident, schools Superintendent Sandra Lewandowski said, adding, "This is a terrible tragedy and loss. We're deeply saddened by this incident and will do everything we can to support the families, classmates, and staff in whatever way possible." The shooting happened outside the facility's front entrance, she said. "There are students that come through our doors every day," the superintendent said. "We care for them. And this is a terrible tragedy and loss." Not much else has been released about the victims apart from the fact that the deceased student was male. Local and federal officials are actively looking into the incident. 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in a statement that officials were coordinating with law enforcement. "As a dad, I know that hearing of a shooting by a school is a parent's greatest fear. Minnesotans deserve to know that when they send their kids to school, they will come home safely," the governor said. "We need more than words, though—we need action. We need action to get guns off the streets and prevent violent crime in the first place. I remain committed to working with officials at all levels of government to seek needed change." The governor added, "We know that one young person will not come home to their family tonight. My heart breaks that a young life was lost as the result of gunfire." 

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a Twitter statement he was "deeply sad & angry" following the shooting. "My office & I will support law enforcement & prosecutors every way we can in solving this crime & holding accountable those responsible," Ellison said. "School shootings, mass shootings & gun violence happen far too often—and we must never become numb or desensitized. We must hold our hearts open to all the outrage and hold our minds open to all the solutions for ending it. We must not accept any more death and lives torn apart."

References:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/1-dead-another-injured-shooting-minnesota-school-rcna14437

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/01/us/mn-south-education-center-shooting/index.html

https://mn.gov/governor/news/#/detail/appId/1/id/517099

https://twitter.com/AGEllison/status/1488629195055980549

Representational Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Yo_co