updated 12-8-99
Four Students Shot at Oklahoma School
See Prophecy: Deathstar City
WIRE:12/07/1999
Police: Teen-ager used father's gun in attack
FORT GIBSON, Okla. (AP) _ A 13-year-old boy who opened fire on his middle school classmates used his father's 9mm semiautomatic handgun, which was purchased at a Wal-Mart, authorities said today.
Police Chief Richard Slader said at a news conference that the boy fired the gun at least 15 times Monday outside Fort Gibson Middle School before being subdued by a teacher, and had more ammunition available. The attack wounded four students; a fifth suffered bumps and bruises.
Slader said the gun was registered to the youth's father, although it was not known when it was purchased.
Witnesses to the shooting said the young suspect offered no warning prior to attack. The smart and popular seventh-grader simply went under a tree, pulled out the gun and began firing, fellow students say.
"He was always nice to everybody. He was real popular, you would never have known him to do anything like this," said Deania Pruitt, an eighth-grade cheerleader.
Meanwhile, students returned to classes today, many brought by their parents instead of riding school buses. Officers blocked off the middle school, and all students were directed to the back doors of the high school.
Stanley Washington said he was glad his 13-year-old son Tommy would be back among friends. They sat in their pickup truck in the parking lot trying to figure out which school doors were unlocked.
"It makes you kind of nervous, but it's best to get back today," Washington said. Tommy sat behind the alleged shooter in his technical education class.
"You think about it _ it's a little scary," the seventh-grader said. "It'll be nice to see my friends."
Police and the teen's attorney wouldn't release his name due to his age and because charges had not been filed by prosecutors. But schoolmates, including Max Chrisman and Shaila Benjamin, both 13, identified the boy as Seth Trickey.
Authorities said the shooter dropped the emptied, 9 mm semiautomatic handgun as he was approached by science teacher Ronnie Holuby. The teacher grabbed the teen's arms and pinned him against a brick wall.
Student Justin Barnes told Tulsa television station KOTV that the boy started yelling, "I'm crazy, I'm crazy," during the shooting. But Muskogee County Sheriff's Lt. Tim Brown said "to our knowledge the boy never said a word."
Authorities said they were not aware of any previous trouble involving the teen and didn't know who owned the gun. He did not leave any notes, and his parents have refused to let him talk with police, authorities said. Officers searched his home and several school lockers.
Prosecutors will not say whether they will try to charge the teen as an adult. They also would not comment if any action would be taken against the parents.
Slader said the teen-ager didn't show any emotion during the drive from the school to the county jail for a closed, 15-minute detention hearing.
"He didn't say anything. It was like he was just in a daze of what was going on around him," Slader said.
Counselors were on hand today when classes resumed at the 450-student middle school. All of the district's 1,850 students were sent home Monday.
Janie Hammons said she discussed the shooting all day Monday with her children. She was waiting in line to drop off 15-year-old Tyler and 11-year-old Daniel Hackman.
"I agree with the school. They should go back right away," Ms. Hammons said. "I don't want them to be scared to come back to school."
Max said one of his friends had said hello to the teen shortly before the shooting.
"He just walked right past him, didn't say anything," Max said. "He set his backpack under a tree and then pulled out a gun and started shooting."
Shaila said he rode the school bus with the teen-ager. "He lived in a very nice, very pretty home. Lots of people liked him," she said.
She was talking with friends outside the middle school's front door when she saw the suspect under the tree, pulling something out. "I heard the shots _ they were going over our heads. We just turned and ran inside."
Three students remained hospitalized today. A 12-year-old girl was in fair condition with a cheek wound, a 13-year-old was treated for a wound to his forearm and another 13-year-old underwent surgery for a leg wound.
Richard Schindel's 12-year-old son, Brad, was shot in both arms. He said his son considered the suspect a friend last year but had not spent time with him this year.
"He keeps telling me he doesn't understand why he'd do it, that he's (the shooter) fairly well-liked, a nice kid," he said. "He totally believes it was random."
President Clinton told reporters in Washington that investigators from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were on the scene in Fort Gibson, a mostly blue-collar town of about 3,500 that is 50 miles southeast of Tulsa.
"Our prayers are with each of the children and their families," Clinton said.
Copyright ©1999 ABC News Internet Ventures
| Student Opens Fire at Dutch School
By ANTHONY DEUTSCH .c The Associated Press
VEGHEL, Netherlands (AP) - December 7, 1999 A teen-age student
In a drama now chillingly familiar in the United States but
Church bells rang in sympathy through the rainy evening in Veghel,
The victims were taken to hospitals, where two of the students were
Police did not identify the suspect, in line with Dutch privacy laws.
``There was panic in the school,'' police spokeswoman Gerda
Preusting said the suspect was upset over a romance and appeared to
Students gathered outside the school told Dutch television that the
``I heard the noise and went to find out what it was,'' the school janitor,
The suspect's target escaped unharmed, the janitor said.
Dutch television showed the classroom floor smeared with blood,
Officials closed the school and sent students home early, although
Lawmakers reacted swiftly to the shooting in this country where most
Justice Minister Benk Korthals said he would not rule out the future
Preusting said that the school had an excellent reputation, with no
``When I heard the news this afternoon, I thought this type of thing AP-NY-12-07-99 1446EDT |
School Shooting Baffles Okla. Town
By RENEE RUBLE
.c The Associated Press
FORT GIBSON, Okla. (Dec. 7, 99) - A day after a 13-year-old was accused of shooting four schoolmates, friends and neighbors in this small rural town were baffled as to why a popular, churchgoing, honor-roll student would do such a thing.
He liked video games, touch football and his mom's cookies. He had a birthday party every year.
And yet, on Monday, the seventh-grader allegedly opened fire outside the Fort Gibson Middle School with the gun his father had bought a few years ago at a Wal-Mart. Four students were wounded, though none of their injuries was considered life-threatening.
''He was always nice to everybody. He was real popular. You would never have known him to do anything like this,'' said Deania Pruitt, an eighth-grade cheerleader.
Authorities and the boy's lawyer have refused to release his name because of his age and because charges have not been filed, but schoolmates who witnessed the shooting identified the boy as Seth Trickey.
''He was a 'no sir, yes sir' kid,'' said Tina Mayo, who lives across the street with her 13-year-old son, Michael.
''We played football, Nintendo and hide and seek,'' Michael Mayo said of Seth's birthday party Friday night.
Most young witnesses said the boy didn't say anything during the shooting. But Justin Barnes told Tulsa TV station KOTV that the boy started yelling: ''I'm crazy, I'm crazy.'' Sheriff's Lt. Tim Brown said, ''To our knowledge the boy never said a word.''
Police Chief Richard Slader said the boy fired at least 15 times outside the school before a science teacher pinned him against a wall, and had more ammunition available.
Authorities said they weren't aware of any previous trouble involving the teen, who attended church regularly. He didn't leave any notes, and his parents have refused to let him talk with police. Because of his age, police need permission to question Seth. Officers searched his home and several school lockers.
Shaila Benjamin said she rode the school bus with the boy. ''He lived in a very nice, very pretty home. Lots of people liked him,'' she said.
Prosecution as a juvenile could lead to a sentence as harsh as incarceration until age 21 or as lenient as being returned to the custody of his parents with instructions to undergo treatment.
Students returning to school Tuesday were met with metal detectors, more than 50 counselors and uniformed officers.
''They're going to be all right,'' said Ronnie Darden as he waited to drop off his 10-year-old daughter, Kayleigh, and 12-year-old son, Drew. ''We have more than adequate faith in the administration and the school.''
Classes for the middle school students were held in an adjacent elementary school. The middle school remained closed as authorities wrapped up their investigation.
Some of the teachers began the morning by letting students make greeting cards for the three students still hospitalized. A 12-year-old girl was in fair condition with a cheek wound, a 13-year-old was wounded in the forearm and another 13-year-old underwent surgery for a leg wound.
For now, Michael Mayo is staying home from school. Drew Darden and most other students returned Tuesday.
''I'm still a little scared,'' Drew said. ''But it means a lot to be back with friends.''
AP-NY-12-07-99 1708EDT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Four Students Shot at Oklahoma School
By RENEE RUBLE
.c The Associated Press
FORT GIBSON, Okla. (Dec. 6, 99) - A seventh-grader walked up to a crowd of youngsters waiting for the morning bell Monday and opened fire with a gun, wounding four schoolmates before a science teacher pinned him against a wall, witnesses said.
None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. A fifth youngster suffered bumps and bruises.
''He doesn't even know who it was he shot,'' sheriff's Deputy Terry Cragg said. ''There was not a hate thing. I asked him why. He said, 'I don't know.'''
The 13-year-old dropped the emptied, 9mm semiautomatic handgun as he was approached by science teacher Ronnie Holuby, who also serves as the safety officer at Fort Gibson Middle School, Superintendent Steve Wilmoth said. Holuby grabbed the boy's arms and pinned him against a brick wall.
The small, slender boy was taken to court for a closed, 15-minute detention hearing, walking solemnly between two deputies and keeping his head down.
Authorities and the boy's attorney wouldn't release his name because of his age and because charges had not been filed by prosecutors. But schoolmates, including 13-year-olds Max Chrisman and Shaila Benjamin, identified the boy as Seth Trickey.
Max said the boy ''looked just like he always did. He didn't look any different. He pulled out a gun and just started shooting.''
Shaila said he began to shoot over their heads and she ducked inside the building. ''He was a straight-A student. He used to ride my bus. He was quite popular.''
Authorities said they were not aware of any previous trouble involving the boy and did not know who owned the gun. The youngster belonged to a teen Christian group and other school organizations, students said.
''He seemed like a really nice person,'' said Justine Hurst, a 13-year-old eighth-grader. ''He had a lot of friends.''
Kanjowah Bowley, another eighth-grader, said: ''Some people say he's crazy, but he's really not. He comes from a really good family.''
Students had gathered outside the middle school and were waiting to enter for the start of classes when the boy walked up at around 7:45 a.m., put his backpack down and started shooting, witnesses said.
''He did not say anything or make any accusations,'' said parent Richard Schindel, who repeated what his son told authorities. ''All the kids started running. ... It was only at that time my son realized he had been shot when one of his friends told him he had been shot. He looked down and saw the blood dripping from both his hands.''
His son, Brad, was in fair condition with bullet wounds in his arms.
School officials, given safety training following the Columbine High School massacre, rushed the students to the safety of the cafeteria.
Some students thought the popping came from fireworks left from a state high school football championship game that Fort Gibson lost 46-0 Saturday.
''We heard one girl screaming. We saw smoke coming from the cement,'' eighth-grader Greg Pruitt said.
The wounded students were taken to hospitals in nearby Muskogee and Tulsa.
A 12-year-old girl was in fair condition with a cheek wound, a 13-year-old was treated for a wound to his forearm and another 13-year-old underwent surgery for a leg wound.
Wilmoth described Fort Gibson as ''a close-knit, very religious community.'' The blue-collar town of about 3,500 is about 50 miles southeast of Tulsa. About 450 students attend the middle school.
Police obtained search warrants to search school lockers. All of the district's 1,850 students were sent home for the day.
Gov. Frank Keating issued a statement saying the shooting ''must serve as a call to arms'' to address ''the root causes of what is happening to our families and young people.''
President Clinton told reporters in Washington that investigators from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were on the scene.
''Our prayers are with each of the children and their families,'' Clinton said.
AP-NY-12-06-99 2100EDT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Four Students Shot at Okla. School
By RENEE RUBLE
.c The Associated Press
FORT GIBSON, Okla. (AP) - Four students at a rural middle school were shot this morning and a middle school student was taken into custody.
Superintendent Steve Wilmoth said students were gathered outside before the 8 a.m. start of classes. ``Another student just walked up and opened fire on them,'' he said. ``From what I know at this point it seems to be a random thing.''
Tyra Palmer, a spokeswoman at Tulsa Regional Medical Center, said a 12-year-old boy was in fair condition there with gunshot wounds to both arms. A 12-year-old girl was in fair condition at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa with a gunshot wound to the cheek, said hospital spokeswoman Melissa Bogle.
Muskogee Regional Medical Center said two 13-year-old boys were brought there, one with a gunshot wound to the forearm and another to the leg.
Justine Hurst, a 13-year-old eighth-grader, stood outside the school with her father, Jim, hours after the shooting. She said she knew two of the victims and the alleged shooter.
``He seemed like a really nice person,'' she said, identifying the shooter as a seventh-grader in her school. ``He had a lot of friends.''
Authorities offered no details about the suspect except to say he was middle-school aged.
Justine arrived at the school just after the shooting happened, as students were being rushed inside into the school cafeteria. She said backpacks lay strewn everywhere.
``Everyone was screaming. Everyone was crying.''
She said some of the children thought the gunfire was the firecrackers left over from Saturday's football game when Fort Gibson played Weatherford in a state high school championship game.
The windows of the school were still painted with signs from the game, including ``We're cheering for you.'' Fort Gibson lost 46-0 to Weatherford.
Lt. Jack Mike, a warden at the Muskogee County Jail, said officers at first thought the frantic 911 call about the shooting was a hoax. The first call came from a student about 7:45 a.m. An adult made the second call, and Wilmoth said help was at the school in a matter of minutes.
Fort Gibson is a town of about 3,500 about 50 miles southeast of Tulsa. About 450 students attend the middle school.
Wilmoth described Fort Gibson as a close-knit community.
A school official said all of the district's 1,850 students would be released early today because of the shooting.
AP-NY-12-06-99 1124EDT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.c The Associated Press
FORT GIBSON, Okla. (Dec. 6, 99) - Three students at a rural middle school were shot this morning and a student was in custody.
Superintendent Steve Wilmoth said students were gathered outside before the 8 a.m. start of classes then ''another student just walked up and opened fire on them.''
Wilmoth didn't know the relationship of the students.
''From what I know at this point it seems to be a random thing,'' he said.
Tyra Palmer, a spokeswoman at Tulsa Regional Medical Center, said one student was in the emergency room there and a doctor was assessing his injuries. Another student was taken by helicopter to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. It wasn't immediately known where the third was taken.
Wilmoth didn't know the extent of the injuries, but said one student was shot twice.
Lt. Jack Mike, a warden at the Muskogee County Jail, said he believed only one person was responsible for the shooting. He wouldn't comment on the age of the person in custody but a Fort Gibson police dispatcher said the person was middle school-age.
Mike said officers at first thought the frantic 911 call about the shooting was a hoax. The first call came from a student about 7:45 a.m. An adult made the second call. Wilmoth said help was at the school in a matter of minutes.
Fort Gibson is a town of about 3,500 about 50 miles southeast of Tulsa. About 450 students attend the middle school.
Wilmoth described Fort Gibson as a close-knit community. On Saturday, the focus had been on Fort Gibson's try for a state football championship. Fort Gibson lost 46-0 to Weatherford.
A school official said all of the district's 1,850 students would be released early today because of the shooting.
AP-NY-12-06-99 1041EDT
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