Man trying to 'aggressively' enter Gadsden elementary school shot and killed by police
by Sumner HarrellThursday, June 9th 2022
GADSDEN, Ala. (WBMA) — A man trying to enter Walnut Park Elementary School in Gadsden was shot and killed during an altercation with a school resource officer Thursday morning, according to Etowah County Sheriff Jonathan Horton.
A person who was passing by the school reportedly saw the man trying to get into the school and called to report it.
Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Tony Reddick told ABC 33/40 that the man was aggressively trying to get into the building. Reddick said the man went to several doors trying to get in. When the principal saw this, they locked down the school and called the school resource officer who then called for backup.
Sheriff Horton said the man was shot outside of the school and the SRO, a Rainbow City police officer, who engaged the man was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the man tried make forcible entry into a marked Rainbow City patrol vehicle. When the SRO attempted to stop him, ALEA officials said the man resisted and attempted to take the officer's gun.
ALEA officials said additional officers from the Gadsden Police Department responded to the scene to provide assistance.The man was shot and pronounced dead.
Authorities said all of the children who were at the school are safe and asked that the area be avoided.
https://abc3340.com/news/local/authorities-respond-to-incident-near-walnut-park-elementary-school-in-gadsden-alabama-ema-police-emergency-june-9-2022?fbclid=IwAR3MGt-vn2qbV4qkOLFXWgruTFQoxnZ9_HKghTAT4DalljxB_y9RDAwte80