The community of Harrisburg, S.D., can let out a sigh of relief after no one was killed in the events that unfolded on Wednesday around 10 a.m.
A 16-year-old student had gone into the main office to speak with the principal, Kevin Lein, but the argument became heated and the student pulled out a gun and shot Lein, who is in good condition at the hospital, explained Sioux Falls Police Officer, Sam Clemens.
"The student, whose identity was not disclosed by police and has not yet been charged, was tackled by two school employees and is in custody," explained the district Superintendent, Jim Holbeck.
The assailant was tackled by the assistant principal, Ryan Rollinger, and the school's activities director, Joey Struwe. Lein, while wounded, was still able to get on the intercom and explained to everyone in the school what had just happened, and letting them know that everything was going to be OK, according to Fox News Insider.
"I can't speak highly enough of what kind of person that is," said Clemens.
"You really never know what this student would have done if they haven't confronted him. I believe what happened there, what those guys did, probably helped saved somebody else from maybe getting shot. I can't tell you what was in his mind, but if he already shot once, who knows," Holbeck explained, according to ABC News.
The students at the school went into the drill procedure for when emergencies happen, and then were kept on lockdown. They were later transported to Harrisburg South Middle School until the appropriate officials arrived. Parents were allowed to go to the middle school and pick up their children.
When authorities arrived, they came in full-force - sheriffs and police officers within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were all called in. The bomb inspectors were still investigating long into the day, but eventually said that the school was safe enough to enter again.
"It's a shame that for years schools have been trying to prepare for this and you hope it doesn't happen in your backyard," the Holbeck said.
Lein has been released from the hospital and is doing well. The community of Harrisburg have been tweeting #prayforlein in support of him and his actions that saved lives, according to Fox 21 News.
Attorney Tom Wollman will be representing the assailant and has disclosed little about the current situation. They will be deciding whether or not they will be charging the student as a juvenile or an adult in court.
"Something's just going on inside of him and he's just mad at everybody, I think," explained the shooters father. "I don't know what would've made him do something like this."
The father of the shooter went on to explain that his son had often gone shooting and had been well adverse in gun safety courses.
