Two students were killed and 17 people were injured during a shooting Tuesday morning at Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky, Governor Matt Bevin said at a press conference Tuesday.
Bevin says the suspect is a 15-year-old male student who will be charged with murder and attempted murder. He allegedly entered the school with a handgun and began firing, authorities said at the press conference.
Bevin did not release the shooter’s name or the names of the two deceased victims. He said both students were 15 — one male, one female. The female student died at the scene and the male died at a nearby hospital.
Of the injured, 12 sustained gunshot wounds while five sustained other injuries.
Sgt. Jody Cash with the Kentucky State Police told reporters the shooting began around 7:57 a.m. Cash confirmed the suspect had been detained, and the shooting scene has been secured.
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My thoughts & prayers go out to the students & faculty at Marshall County High School where there has been a tragic school shooting.
— James Comer (@KYComer) January 23, 2018
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On the U.S. Senate floor Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, “Our hearts are with the entire community of Marshall County and our gratitude is with the first responders who rushed into harm’s way.”
Tuesday’s incident was the second school shooting in as many days, following a shooting in Italy, Texas, on Monday.