Shooting at Des Moines Charter School Leaves Two Students Dead

National news reports that two students were shot and killed at a Des Moines, Iowa, charter school on Monday afternoon. The school, Starts Right Here, specializes in education for disadvantaged students and has a close relationship with local police, according to NBC News. Police received a call at 12:50 p.m. CT and arrived at the school to find the two students and an adult employee wounded, said Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek. The employee is in stable condition.

“There was nothing random about this; it was certainly a targeted incident,” said Parizek. “As far as a motive, that’s something we are going to try to figure out.”

Parizek said that witnesses described a car feeling the scene, which officers pulled over 2 miles south of the school. Two people in the car surrendered to police, while the third escaped. A K-9 police unit assisted officers in capturing the third person, said Parizek.

Parizek said that “all three of the potential suspects are in custody” and are being questioned, NBC News reports.

“These are supposed to be our safe spaces, and this school in particular, it’s one that the police department works very closely with,” said Parizek. “The school is designed to pick up the slack and help kids who need the help the most, the ones who aren’t getting the services they need for a variety of different reasons. To have it happen here, it’s going to be a horrible impact on the community.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning and Campus Security and Life Safety. He can be reached at [email protected]

Featured

  • Gun Violence Report Finds Retail Spaces, K-12 Schools Most Targeted

    ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation, today announced the release of its annual Gun Violence Report, offering a deep dive into the landscape of gun-related incidents across the United States. This analysis extends beyond mass fatality events, providing a more nuanced understanding of when, where, and why shootings occur. Read Now

  • Cybersecurity is An Overlooked Threat on K-12 Campuses

    Improving physical security on K-12 campuses is always at the top of mind for decision makers like principals, superintendents, and many others with a focus on surveillance cameras, access control, and emergency drills. But cybersecurity something that needs as much scrutiny as in today’s digital landscape. Read Now

    • Communication
  • Four Fathers Stop School Shooter at Weekend Band Competition in Texas

    An 83-year-old man allegedly injured one during a school shooting at a band competition in a Houston suburb. According to a Facebook post by the Pasadena Police Department, the shooting happened after 6 p.m. at Pasadena Memorial High School on Saturday. Read Now

  • Tennessee School Shooter Partially Livestreamed Attack that Killed One

    The school shooter who killed one during an attack in Nashville, Tenn. partially livestreamed the attack. Read Now