Teacher, student shot at Noblesville West Middle School; shooter in custody . . .
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Two people were in critical condition and a suspected shooter was in custody after a shooting Friday morning at Noblesville West Middle School.
Noblesville Police Department said the first call came in at 9:06 a.m. Two people were shot, a 13-year-old girl and a teacher.
The student has not been identified. She remains in critical condition as of Friday night.
The teacher is Jason Seaman. He was in good condition by the end of Friday.
“There is a male student at Noblesville West Middle School who has been detained,” said Kevin Jowitt, Noblesville police chief. “We believe he is the involved suspect. We have no reason to believe that there is any kind of a threat connected to this anywhere else.”
Indiana State Police helicopter delivered Noblesville Schools Superintendent Beth Niedermeyer to Noblesville West Middle School after Niedermeyer visited families of an injured student and teacher. (Reporter photo by Jeff Jellison)
Authorities held a press conference at 2 p.m. Friday to provide an update on the shooting. They did not confirm the names of the victims or the suspected shooter at that time, they provided details on what led up to the shooting.
Jowitt said that a male student asked to be excused from a classroom, left and returned with two handguns. Jowitt said that classroom is where the shooting occurred and that the incident was resolved quickly.
“We don’t know what happened in the classroom, so I can’t make any comments but we do know what happened in that classroom resolved very quickly,” Jowitt said.
“You never think they’re going to happen in your hometown,” is how Lt. Bruce Barnes, a public information officer with Noblesville Police Department, began his comments at the press conference.
Barnes said that a school resource officer assigned to the campus was inside the building and responded. He said the shooter “was apprehended in the classroom or thereabouts” and that authorities are still working to learn what that process looked like. He also said that officials would be reviewing video from the school.
The teacher was shot while taking down the shooter and was taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. The girl was taken to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health in Indianapolis.
Barnes said they had no reason to believe the suspect was injured.
Barnes also confirmed the school does not have metal detectors “as a regular basis of walking into the school.”
Barnes said a number of search warrants had been issued, while another official said the investigation would have to be completed before they could determine if and what charges would be filed.
“We all train for this. When it comes down to it, we come to the realization of ‘What do we do?'” Barnes said, speaking of the ongoing investigation.
Noblesville Schools Superintendent Beth Niedermeyer said she had just visited with the families of the victims and asked that while cards and kind wishes were welcome, people stay away from the hospital to allow the families to have some peace.
Niedermeyer called the efforts of the school staff heroic and said, “They did exactly what they were trained to do. Please keep the thoughts and prayers coming. We’re so grateful for the support we’ve had.” Arrangements for students returning to school in the coming days were still in process, Barnes and Niedermeyer said.
In a statement, Barnes said, “It is from the very bottom of our hearts that we say “thank you” to all of the local, county, state and federal emergency service agencies, Noblesville School Corporation, local, county, state and federal elected officials, community groups, local businesses, citizens and media outlets for their assistance, patience and outpouring of concern during this tragic incident.
Reporter photos by Jeff Jellison