Knoxville shooting: One dead, officer wounded at Tennessee school

Police in the US city of Knoxville, Tennessee, say one person has died and a police officer has been wounded in an incident at a local high school on Monday afternoon.

In a statement shared on Twitter, the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) said law enforcement officers responded to a report “of a male subject who was possibly armed” at Austin-East Magnet High School in Knoxville.

“Upon approach of the subject, shots were fired,” the department said.

The officer was struck at least once, police said and transported to hospital with non-life threatening injures.

“One male was pronounced deceased at the scene, while another was detained for further investigation,” the KPD said in its statement, adding that no other gunshot victims were known.

– Officer Involved Shooting at Austin East High School – @TBInvestigation will be the lead investigating agency and provide further information as it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/Hjetzf1vNT

— Knoxville Police TN (@Knoxville_PD) April 12, 2021

The police department had earlier said “multiple gunshot victims” were reported.

It said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, a state-level department, would lead the probe into what happened.

Earlier on Monday, television news images showed police and fire crews surrounding the school in east Knoxville.

“Knox County Schools is responding to a shooting that occurred this afternoon at Austin-East Magnet High School. We are gathering information about this tragic situation and will provide additional information as soon as possible,” Knoxville schools Superintendent Bob Thomas said on Twitter.

“The school building has been secured and students who were not involved in the incident have been released to their families,” Thomas said.

Knox County Schools is responding to a shooting that occurred this afternoon at Austin-East Magnet High School. We are gathering information about this tragic situation and will provide additional information as soon as possible.

— Bob Thomas (@KnoxSchoolsSupt) April 12, 2021

The United States has seen a string of shootings in recent weeks.

Ten people were killed when a gunman opened fire in a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, on March 23.

Eight people, including six Asian women, were also killed in March when a gunman attacked three separate spas in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.

Last week, US President Joe Biden unveiled a series of executive actions to address gun violence – his first key action on gun control since taking office.

“Gun violence in this country is an epidemic and it is an international embarrassment,” Biden said at a White House ceremony on Thursday.