Police took a middle school student into custody Friday morning on suspicion of firing shots at Indiana’s Noblesville West Middle School, leaving at least two people injured.
Update May 26, 1:04 p.m. EDT: The student who was shot on Friday has been identified as 13-year-old Ella Whistler, according to WTTV.
Her family released her photo and a statement, that she is “doing well” and remains in stable but critical condition.
In a statement to RTV6, the family thanked law enforcement but asked for privacy at this time.
"We'd like to thank everyone across the country who has prayed for our family today," the statement read. "We've felt those prayers and appreciate all of them."
Update 7:44 p.m. EDT: Jason Seaman, the teacher injured in the shooting, released a statement Friday evening:
"First of all, thank you to the first responders from Noblesville and Fishers for their immediate action and care. I want to let everyone know that I was injured (but) am doing great. To all the students, you are all wonderful and I thank you for your support. You are the reason I teach."
Update 2:50 p.m. EDT: The Indianapolis Star identified the teacher injured in Friday's shooting at Noblesville West Middle School as Jason Seaman. The newspaper reported he was shot three times while knocking the gun out of the hands of a middle school student who fired shots at the school.
Jason Seaman’s brother, Jeremy Seaman, told the newspaper that he was not surprised by reports of his brother’s actions. Students have told several news stations that his quick thinking saved an untold number of lives.
"He's not really ever been the person to run away," Jeremy Seaman told the Star. "When the safety of the kids is at hand, it's not surprising to me that he was going to do what he had to do."
Jeremy Seaman told the Star that his brother was undergoing surgery Friday.
Update 2:39 p.m. EDT: Noblesville police Chief Kevin Jowitt said at a news conference Friday afternoon that the student who opened fire at Noblesville West Middle School earlier in the day asked to be excused from class before returning with a pair of handguns.
Jowitt said the student was quickly taken into custody.
Update 2 p.m. EDT: A Noblesville West Middle School student told WXIN that a science teacher sprang into action Friday after a student opened fire at the school, knocking the gun from the shooter's hand and likely saving lives.
The seventh-grade girl, who was not identified, told the news station that “this science teacher bravely swatted that gun away from the gunman’s hands, saving everyone else in that room.”
Another seventh-grader, Ethan Stonebraker, told The Associated Press that the shooter walked into his science class while students were taking a test.
"Our science teacher immediately ran at him, swatted a gun out of his hand and tackled him to the ground," Stonebraker said. "If it weren't for him, more of us would have been injured for sure."
It was not immediately clear if the teacher was the same one injured in Friday morning’s shooting.
Police said a juvenile and an adult teacher were injured when an unidentified male student opened fire at the school around 9 a.m. Another student also suffered an ankle fracture, according to officials with Riverview Health.
Update 11:43 a.m. EDT: Vice President Mike Pence thanked law enforcement officers and shared condolences after a shooting at a middle school in his home state, Indiana.
“Karen and I are praying for the victims of the terrible shooting in Indiana,” Pence wrote on Twitter Friday, referring to his wife, Karen Pence. “To everyone in the Noblesville community -- you are in our hearts and in our prayers.”
Update 11:28 a.m. EDT: Noblesville police Chief Kevin Jowitt confirmed that a teacher and a juvenile were injured Friday morning in a shooting at Noblesville West Middle School.
Police did not identify either of the victims. They were taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital and Riley Hospital, respectively, Jowitt said.
Officials with Riverview Health said earlier Friday that a second student was treated for an ankle fracture after the shooting.
Authorities had a suspect, identified as a male student, in custody Friday morning.
Jowitt said Noblesville West Middle School had been cleared by 11:30 a.m. However, he added that authorities also received reports of a threat made at Noblesville High School.
Police are investigating the report.
Update 11:18 a.m. EDT: Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said he and other officials are monitoring the situation in Noblesville after at least two people were injured in a shooting at Noblesville West Middle School on Friday.
Authorities are expected to provide additional details about Friday’s shooting in a news conference later in the day.
Update 10:55 a.m. EDT: Chad Lancaster, whose eighth-grade daughter and sixth-grade son attend Noblesville West Middle School, told the Indianapolis Star that his daughter called her mother, his ex-wife, while hiding under a desk amid reports of an active shooter on campus.
He told the newspaper he has been unable to get in touch with his son.
"This is surreal," Lancaster told the Star. "This happens in high school, not here."
Officials with Riverview Health said one of the two people injured in Friday morning's shooting was taken to the hospital and transfered to Riley Hospital in stable condition. A second person, a student, was being treated for an ankle fracture.
Officials told the Star earlier Friday that an adult was also injured in the shooting.
A suspect, who has not been identified, was in custody after the shooting.
Update 10:40 a.m. EDT: Indiana University Health officials told the Indianapolis Star that an adult and a teenager were injured in Friday's shooting at Noblesville West Middle School.
The two have not been identified. Indiana State Police said earlier Friday that they were taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital for treatment of their injuries and that their families had been notified.
Update 10:20 a.m. EDT: Indiana State Police confirmed two people were taken to a hospital after authorities responded Friday morning to reports of an active shooter at Noblesville West Middle School.
Officials said a suspect was in custody after the shooting. Authorities were expected to provide additional details at a news conference later Friday.
Original report: Authorities confirmed around 9:40 a.m. that police had a suspect in custody after responding to a report of an active shooter situation at the middle school.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
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