Crime & Safety

Richmond School Temporarily Closed After 'Isolated Incident'

Richmond Community Schools, Indiana state police are taking action and investigating after a suspected teenage shooter incident Dec. 13.

RICHMOND, IN — Richmond Community Schools announced Dennis Intermediate School is closed to students Friday, Dec. 14 and Monday, Dec. 17 for what district officials are calling an isolated incident Thursday that left a suspected teenager died inside the building following a report sent to police of a potential violent act. According to the district all other RCS schools are open Friday and Monday and there will be extra law enforcement members at all the schools.

"If you plan to keep your children home tomorrow, we understand," the school posted on social media, regarding Friday, Dec. 14.

On Thursday, the Indiana State Police announced a teenage suspect is dead after area law enforcement were alerted to a potential violent act Thursday morning at Dennis Intermediate School. ISP said their members and local law enforcement agencies are investigating what led to the incident at the Indiana school, located at 222 NW 7th St.

Find out what's happening in Indianapoliswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

ISP said shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday the Richmond Police Department dispatch center alerted area law enforcement agencies of the possible violent incident that could occur at the school, leading to officers responding to the building that had been placed on lock down.

According to a report from ISP, officers confronted the teenage suspect outside the school, who police claim shot out the glass of a locked school entry door and ran inside. That's where police said the suspect and officers fired shots back and forth before the teen turned the gun on himself, and died as a result.

Find out what's happening in Indianapoliswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

ISP said while no officers were injured, it has been determined if the suspect was wounded by police.

Police are emphasizing the result of the advance notification for a potential violent act at the school. ISP said the school was able to initiate their lock down procedure which in turn prevented injury to students and faculty, even though the suspect was able to get inside.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb released a statement just before 11 a.m. Thursday, less than two hours after the incident was reported.

Gov. Holcomb said, "I directed the Indiana State Police to work with all local responders at the shooting at Dennis Intermediate School. We will continue to work with the school and Superintendent Jennifer McCormick do everything possible to assist the community and support all those impacted by this terrible situation."

McCormick, Indiana's Superintended of Public Instruction, has not yet made a statement on the shooting situation.

On Thursday morning, Richmond Community Schools officials said only the suspect was hurt and the building was secure following the active shooter situation.

Around 9:30 a.m. Thursday the district announced the intermediate students were being transported to Richmond High School as all were accounted for, and parents should go to Civic Hall to pick up their child.

The intermediate school serves students in grades 5 to 8 in the east central Indiana district.

Patch will continue updating this breaking news as more information becomes available.

Image via Google Street View


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.