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
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