Girl dies, gunman kills himself in bloody end to Colorado school siege
By Jennifer King,WNS Western US Correspondent
DENVER, Colorado - A schoolgirl hostage was fatally wounded before a gunman killed himself as armed police stormed a high school in the western state of Colorado, police said Wednesday. Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener said the unidentified gunman turned his weapon upon himself after shooting one of two girls being held hostage at Platte Canyon High School in Bailey, 35 miles (56 kilometres) south of Denver. The man, believed to be in his 30s, opened fire as police entered a second floor classroom after the gunman -- who claimed to be carrying a bomb -- broke off contact with hostage negotiators. "Entry was made, the suspect shot one of the hostages and then shot himself, that's what it looks like at this time," Wegener told reporters. The second hostage escaped unharmed. The critically injured girl was airlifted to St Anthony Central Hospital in Denver but died later Wednesday. "I can confirm the girl has died," hospital spokeswoman Bev Lilly told AFP, refusing to give any more details about the victim.
The drama immediately evoked memories of the 1999 Columbine high school massacre in neighbouring Jefferson County, when 13 students were gunned down by two teenage pupils who then killed themselves. Wegener, who has worked in the small community of Park County for 36 years, said police were struggling to come to terms with the latest school shooting tragedy to hit Colorado. "We're just shocked this has happened in a rural county," said Wegener, his voice trembling with emotion. "I don't know the identity of the gunman, I don't know why he wanted to do this and hopefully the investigation will reveal who it is," he told reporters. "I have not yet been able to talk with the family of the female student that was shot but my prayers are with them," Wegener said, speaking before the hostage's death was confirmed.
posted by wnsworld @ 10:11 AM
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