Local and state police provided an update in a media conference at the front of Noblesville West Middle School at 2 p.m., just five hours after a classroom in the school was hit by an active shooter.
According to Noblesville Police Chief Kevin Jowitt, a male student asked to be excused from the classroom. Upon returning, he had two handguns which he used to shoot a student and a teacher. An investigation is ongoing, and local, state and federal departments are still processing the crime scene. Several search warrants have been issued and video surveillance is being reviewed. Detectives are currently conducting interviews, but the investigation will need to be complete before charges can be fully filed. A hearing may occur as early as Tuesday.
NPD Public Information Officer Lt. Bruce Barnes said a school resource officer was on duty in NWMS during the time of the shooting and said the SRO responded correctly but didn’t release any more details.
It is still not confirmed if the suspect was targeting a particular student or what his motive was. It appears the suspect was not injured during apprehension, and he was apprehended within the same classroom the shooting occurred.
Police didn’t release the names or conditions of the victims, but Supt. Beth Niedermeyer encouraged friends and the public to refrain from visiting the hospitals to let the family have some peace during this time.
Niedermeyer said the district is still working to determine what coming back to school will look like for students.
