A campus police officer shot a knife-wielding teenager at a high school in Nevada as the kid was reportedly having an altercation with another student. The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave while the teenager who has been shot remains under critical condition.
According to ABC News, the incident took place at Hug High School in Reno and Police Chief Jason Soto confirmed that the boy remains in critical condition at the Renown Regional Medical Center. The identity of the teenager has not been released, as well as the name of the campus police officer involved in the shooting.
Soto did not confirm the reports immediately after the shooting but said in a news conference hours after that the 14-year-old teenager had at least one knife on him and was threatening other students. The student was said to be arguing with another kid and a video of the whole incident has been recorded by some witnesses, USA Today reported.
Videos have been circulating online on Twitter and Facebook but it does not show why the teenager pulled out a knife and when exactly did he brandish his weapon. In one of the videos, the campus police officer who fired the shot was seen approaching the teen who was on the ground after he was shot.
The officer then moved something away from the teen using his feed before kneeling near the teenager and providing medical assistance as they await emergency responders. Soto also said that the teenager was first warned by the police officer and given verbal commands to drop the knife but the teen refused to do so.
Ultimately, the campus police officer fired his service weapon and struck the student, thus stopping the threat. Soto said, "Once the threat was stopped, the officer immediately began to provide medical aid to the student until emergency medical assistance arrived."
After the shooting, Hug High School was placed on a lockdown. By mid-afternoon, children were released to their parents. Reno police officer Tim Broadway noted that more than 40 students witnessed the incident and they are asking those who took videos to surrender it to the police first before it could be released to the public.
Before the shooting, no one else was injured despite reports that the shot teenager stabbed another student. Classes at Hug High School resumed on Thursday.
Counselors were available for students and staff members who need assistance. Meanwhile, the family of the student shot has been notified but they have not released any statement, as of press time.
