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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (June 11, 2014)
News Lone Gunman kills Student at Reynolds High School By Helen Silvis Of The Skanner News A freshman student was shot and killed early Tuesday, June 10 at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Oregon. The shooter was another teen who arrived at the school heavily armed and went on to wound a teacher before ending his own life. The rapid actions of the teacher, two school resource officers and law enforcement officers from local, state and federal depart- ments were credited with preventing more fatalities. Details of the attack emerged over the next 24 hours. First law enforcement could only confirm the shooting was carried out by one lone gunman, now dead along with a victim. as Emilio Hoffman, 14, a fresh- man at Reynolds High School,” Anderson said. “I met with the parents of Emilio and they are devastated. They want you to know that he was a great kid, and he was loved by all. “This is a tragedy that affects our whole community. It is not supposed to happen to any school or any community.” Physical education instructor Todd Rispler was shot and super- ficially wounded. But despite his wounds, Rispler was able to alert the school and put it into lock- down. Anderson said an additional gun had been found in possession of another person but it was uncon- nected to the shooting. He said that person was taken into police custody. ‘I met with the parents of Emilio and they are devastated. They want you to know that he was a great kid, and he was loved by all’ Meanwhile worried parents gathered in the parking lot of a Fred Meyers store June 10, wait- ing to be reunited with their students. Many parents had heard from their students and knew they were safe. Other parents were sim- ply waiting and hoping to see their students arrive safely. Some waited for hours as feder- al, state and local law enforcement agencies secured the area, checked students for weapons and trans- ported them away from the school –now a crime scene—to join their families. Fred Meyer staff handed out water bottles and cookies. Some parents said the shooting made them want to strengthen the school community. Later that afternoon, Troutdale Police Chief Scott Anderson was able to identify the student who had been shot and killed. “We have identified the victim By Wednesday morning, Ander- son was able to identify the shooter as Jared Michael Pagett, 15, also a Reynolds freshman stu- dent. And he explained how the shooting occurred. Anderson said Padgett arrived at school on a school bus with a gui- tar case and a duffel bag. He went into the boys’ locker room next to the gym where he killed Emilio Hoffman, 15, also a freshman. Anderson said Pagett used an AR15 rifle. He also had in his pos- session, a semi-automatic handgun, nine loaded magazines capable of holding hundreds of bullets, and a knife. He got the weapons from his home where they were locked up. He was wearing a non-ballistic vest and a multi-sport helmet with a camou- flage design. Anderson said investigators knew of no connection between Since the Sandy Hook massacre there have been 74 school shootings affecting schools and universities. Map by: Everytown for Gun Safety: Mark Gongloff Pagett and his victim. They do not yet have any information about Pagett’s motives. After killing Hoffman, Pagett encountered PE teacher Todd Ristler, and shot at him, but the bullet only grazed the teacher’s hip. Ristler was able to call the lockdown and alert school resource officers. “I cannot overemphasize the role the responding officers and Ristler played,” Anderson said. Pagett fled but was prevented from getting close to other stu- dents by the school resource officers. They exchanged shots cers, and state, local and federal law enforcement agencies. “I have no doubt in my mind that their rapid action saved lives,” she said. Florence said all the other stu- dents and teachers had conducted themselves with calm composure and caring. She said Multnomah County had also responded quick- ly with buses and mental health support. And she thanked the trau- ma intervention team for providing crisis counseling. Troutdale Mayor Doug Daoust said the shooting remained an active investigation. He asked wit- ‘I have no doubt in my mind that their rapid action saved lives’ with him, and he went into a small bathroom. Anderson said the medical examiner was able to confirm he had died from a self-inflicted gun- shot. Reynolds Schools Superinten- dent Linda Florence thanked Ristler, the school resource offi- nesses to come forward with any information. Call the tip line at 503-618-7633. He also asked for anyone with photos to send them to investigators through the web- site www.troutdale.info Students, families and anyone traumatized by the shooting can see a crisis counselor at Mt. Hood Community College gymnasium. About 50 counselors from Mult- nomah County, FBI Victim’s Services, and Trauma Intervention Program and the Reynolds School District will be on hand from 7a.m.-7p.m. Wednesday June 11. Or you can call the Multnomah County Mental Health Crisis line at 503-988-4888. President Obama spoke out in Washington DC saying his great- est frustration is that Congress has failed to pass any common-sense gun control measures. “We are the only developed country where this happens,” he said. “And it’s happening once a week.” Gov. Kitzhaber attended a can- dlelight prayer vigil Tuesday night at the Greater Portland Baptist Church along with community members. Rebecca Stavenjord, who directs the federally funded anti-violence program STRYVE for Multnomah County, said community health workers’ goal is to create healthy, See REYNOLDS on page 10 The National Newspaper Publishers Convention June 25-28 in Portland S PO NS O R S : June 11, 2014 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 9
