UPDATE: Two children and one teacher have been shot at the Townville Elementary School in Anderson County in South Carolina. The two children shot are both 6-years-old.
At least one of the victims has been airlifted to a trauma center.
A teenaged suspect is in custody.
Another person was found dead 1.5 miles from the school. Authorities have confirmed that the deceased is the suspect’s father.
EARLIER:
Multiple media outlets are reporting that a shooting has taken place at the Townville Elementary School in Anderson County, SC.
Students are being evacuated out of the back of the school and the nearby highway has been completely shut down.
Fox News is now reporting that there are multiple shooting victims and their conditions are unknown. At least one student has been airlifted to to the local trauma center.
Local media is reporting that the shooter is in custody.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office provided this statement to the media:
Deputies from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office responded to provide assistance at the request of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office in regards to an active shooter situation that occurred at Townville Elementary School in Anderson County.
The Sheriff’s Office received word of a reported active shooter at the school around 1:44pm this afternoon and immediately dispatched the first deputies to the scene as well as sending deputies to the area schools in Oconee County to ensure the safety of our students. A request was made until more information became known for the area schools in Oconee County to go into a code yellow which means instruction inside the school continues as usual but no one is allowed into the building. School dismissal will take place in Oconee County on the normal schedule.
Since that time, the Sheriff’s Office has been assisting the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office in regards to securing and clearing the school. The Sheriff’s Office SWAT unit and additional resources have been activated to assist.
Also, assets from Oconee County Emergency Services responded to the scene as well.
“I have spoken with Sheriff John Skipper in Anderson County and have offered to make available any resources and assistance from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office that he needs as the investigation continues,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw.
We will update this story as credible information becomes available.
