Part I of 2
Man dies in officer-involved shooting outside Walnut Park Elementary School
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has taken over an investigation into the fatal police shooting Thursday morning of a man outside Walnut Park Elementary School in Gadsden.
Etowah County Coroner London Pearce identified the deceased as Robert Tyler White, 32. He said the man lived in the Gadsden area; however, a news release Thursday afternoon from ALEA listed him as being from Bunnlevel, North Carolina.
Officials say the man tried to get into the school through several doors, but all were locked. His motives for trying to get into the school were not known, and school and law enforcement officials alike were praising the reaction to the incident: The would-be intruder never made it into the school, and the only substantial harm was suffered by him.
Here's what happened, according to law enforcement and school officials.
Etowah County Sheriff Jonathon Horton said his office responded to a call that came at about 9:30 a.m. He said someone passing the school reported seeing someone trying to enter cars or the school, and thought it just didn't look right. A non-emergency call was made to Attalla police, Horton said, and relayed.
Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Tony Reddick said the man tried to get into the school through several doors. "We were blessed," he said.
Teachers in the system have been drilled on keeping school doors locked, and students have been drilled about never opening a door to anyone, even if they look like they belong at the school.
A Rainbow City police officer was at the school as a school resource officer, Horton said. He came out and confronted the suspect, and they scuffled. At some point the officer called for backup.
Horton said he got to the scene about 5 minutes after the call, and multiple agencies were already there.
The suspect was fatally shot during the incident.
The Rainbow City officer suffered minor injuries, according to Horton.
From information provided so far, the suspect did not have a weapon. However, Etowah County District Attorney Jody Willoughby said the man apparently tried to get the officer's gun during their altercation.
ALEA confirmed that in a statement Thursday afternoon: "An individual was attempting to make forcible entry into a marked Rainbow City patrol vehicle at which point a School Resource Officer with the Rainbow City Police Department attempted to stop the subject," according to ALEA. "The subject resisted and attempted to take the officer’s firearm.
https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/06/09/police-incident-walnut-park-school/7567393001/