Horrific breaking news from South Carolina.
At least two children have been injured after a shooting at Townville Elementary School in Anderson County, according to scanner traffic. EMS and LifeFlight are responding to the scene along with units from multiple law enforcement agencies.
The coroner said that a man was dead near the school and the death is possibly related to the incident at the school, reporter Mike Ellis from the Independent Mail reported on Twitter. No further details were available on the fatality or its precise location.
The incident was first reported shortly after 2 p.m., according to reports on social media. Witnesses on social media reported seeing dozens of emergency vehicles speeding up Highway 24 toward the school. Units from multiple law enforcement agencies were on their way to the scene, including the Highway Patrol, Anderson city, Anderson County and Oconee County.
Sheila Cole, spokeswoman for Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, believed they have someone in custody, but is awaiting on confirmation.
UPDATE | Authorities confirm shooting took place at Townville Elem. One person in custody. #scnews https://t.co/joCnwCTy2g
— WCBD News 2 (@WCBD) September 28, 2016
One suspect is in custody, and the school has been evacuated.
Armed officers were at the school by about 2 p.m. Multiple law enforcement vehicles lined the driveway.
Parents were waiting nearby and children were being brought out of the back of the school.
The evacuated students moved to Oakdale Baptist Church at 6724 Highway 24 in Townville.
Officers were walking on the roof of the school as other deputies and officers cleared the building. Two helicopters landed in a field by the school.
We’ll update as we have more information.
Update: Two students were Life-Flighted to a Greenville (SC) Pediatric Trauma Center. One female teacher was taken by ground ambulance to a hospital. The extend of their injuries is not known.
A teenaged suspect is in custody.
Officers have clear the school and the seen is secure.
There is a fatality reported at a home on Osborne Road in Townville that is believed to be associated with the same suspect.
Townville Elementary, like most elementary schools in the nation, does not have an armed SRO (School Resource Officer) assigned. Armed SROs have been instrumental in preventing several high school shootings from becoming mass murders in recent years.
Update: Some “good” news, at last. It appears the teacher and students will all live.
UPDATE: 1 victim in serious condition at Greenville Health System…other 2 victims are STABLE at this hour. #Townville
— Andrew Reeser (@andrewreeser) September 28, 2016
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