Classes canceled at Tennessee school where armed student was killed

Classes have been canceled at a Knoxville, Tenn., school where an armed student was killed on Monday.

Knox County Schools Superintendent Bob Thomas said in a news conference on Monday that Austin-East Magnet High School will not hold classes on Tuesday and Wednesday after a shooting inside the school that left the suspect dead and a police officer injured.

Decisions about classes for the rest of the week will be communicated within “the next day or so,” Thomas said.

Thomas added that counselors will be available at the school on Tuesday and encouraged students and staff to reach out for help.

Authorities responded on Monday at around 3:15 p.m. to a report of a possibly armed male student at the school.

Officers entered a restroom after the suspect refused to come out. The suspect allegedly fired shots, striking an officer, while another officer returned fire.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, and he has not been identified outside of being a student.

During the news conference on Monday, Thomas thanked the school’s staff for “showing incredible courage and strength as this awful situation unfolded.”

“I know the Austin-East staff loves their students deeply, and we are all devastated by this tragedy,” he said.

Austin-East isn’t the only high school to change its plans for classes amid a shooting.

In California, classes at several high schools were moved online Tuesday after a man and a woman were reportedly involved in two shootings in the San Diego area and hiding in a dumpster. 

The suspect, Christopher Marquez, shot at police Monday night during a pursuit that entered San Diego High School’s campus and then hid in a dumpster where they remained Tuesday morning.

San Diego Police confirmed on Tuesday that Marquez was shot and killed, according to The San Diego Tribune, according to a local CBS affiliate.