A shooting at a Nevada school left two people dead and two boys in critical condition today, police said the suspect is "down," and school officials say there is no further danger.
The first reports of the shooting came in at about 7:15 am (local time), about 15 minutes before the first classes were set to begin.
Students from the middle school and next door elementary school were evacuated to the nearby high school, and classes were canceled.
At the evacuation center, parents walked with their arms around their children, some of whom were in tears.
"We came flying down here to get our kids," said Mike Fiorica, whose nephew attends the school. "... It's really chaotic. You can imagine how parents are feeling. You don't know if your kid's OK."
The shooting happened on the school's campus, but outside the school building itself, according to police.
Spokeswoman Angela Rambo of Renown Regional Medical Center says two boys are in critical condition.
Gov Brian Sandoval issued a statement after hearing about the shooting.
"I was deeply saddened to learn of the horrific shooting at Sparks Middle School this morning. My administration is receiving regular updates and the Nevada Highway Patrol is assisting at the scene," he said. Sandoval extended his thoughts and prayers to those affected.
The school, located in a working class neighborhood, enrolls about 700 students in 7th and 8th grades.
The violence erupted nearly a year after a gunman horrified the nation by opening fire in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, leaving 26 dead. The December 14 shooting reignited debate over how best to protect the nation's schools and whether armed teachers should be part of that equation.
Sparks, a city of roughly 90,000 that sprung out of the railway industry, lies just east of Reno.
