A mass shooting at a high school in Knoxville, Tennessee has resulted in several people being shot. According to local station WVLT, the Knoxville Police Department confirmed there are multiple gunshot victims following a shooting at Austin-East Magnet High School.
“Multiple agencies are on the scene of a shooting at Austin-East Magnet High School,” the Knoxville PD wrote on Twitter. “Multiple gunshot victims reported, including a KPD officer.”
Austin-East Magnet High School is currently on lockdown, and a reunification site has been established at a nearby baseball field. Additionally, “students who were not involved in the incident have been released to their families,” per Knoxville County Schools Superintendent Bob Thomas.
In the wake of the gunfire, Mayor Indya Kincannon praised staff members at Austin-East School for coming together to protect the students. The Tennessee Department of Education later released a statement, offering their support to those affected by the high school shooting.
“As details continue to emerge, our thoughts are with Austin East Magnet High School and those school community members who have been affected by the shooting that took place this afternoon,” a tweet read. “The department stands ready to support.”
According to Kincannon, the officer is currently recovering at UT Medical Center. It’s not clear whether anyone was killed in the incident.
The shooting at Austin East Magnet High School comes days after President Joe Biden announced his executive actions on gun control, which include a required background check from those willing to purchase “ghost guns” — firearms that usually lack serial numbers and a call for the Department of Justice to publish “red flag” laws that will help to determine which individuals should be banned from obtaining guns.
An investigation into the high school shooting is ongoing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Nashville said they’re responding to the incident to assist local law enforcement, and the Knoxville police cautioned people to stay away from the area though there is reportedly no active shooter threat at this time.