Deadly shootings at schools in Virginia, Minnesota; students, cops shot Police car lights (Wikimedia/Matty Ring)
An active shooter fatally shot two cops before being apprehended at Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Va. on Tuesday. At the same time, a separate shooting incident took place outside a school in Richfield, Minn., leaving one student dead and one critically injured.
Bridgewater College President David Bushman said in an email to students that campus police officer John Painter and safety officer J.J. Jefferson died after being shot, Local Daily News-Record reported. Bushman called the officers “close friends, known to many of us as ‘the dynamic duo.’”
Bridgewater College tweeted just after 4:30 pm — approximately three hours after the incident was reported — that two officers were shot and an armed suspect who initially fled was later apprehended. The school also officially lifted the lockdown.
(2/2) Initial reports came in that 2 officers had been shot & the armed suspect had fled. State & local law enforcement immediately responded and initiated a massive search operation for the suspect. By 1:55 p.m. the male shooter was taken into custody. Investigation ongoing.
— Bridgewater College (@BridgewaterNews) February 1, 2022
At around 1:24 p.m. ET, the school first tweeted, “Reports of active shooter on campus. Shelter in place.”
Reports of active shooter on campus. Shelter in place.
— Bridgewater College (@BridgewaterNews) February 1, 2022
Daily News-Record reporter Ian Munro tweeted a photo appearing to show police arresting a suspect. “A man was taken into custody by law enforcement following an active shooter alert at Bridgewater College on Tuesday. Photo by Daniel Lin.”
A man was taken into custody by law enforcement following an active shooter alert at Bridgewater College on Tuesday. Photo by Daniel Lin. @DNRnews https://t.co/C5w7DlGOs1 pic.twitter.com/TQPV7A9oMW
— Ian Munro – Daily News-Record (@iamIanMunro) February 1, 2022
The Harrisonburg Police Department and FBI were involved in the response and apprehension.
“I have been briefed on the situation at Bridgewater College,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Younkgin tweeted. “The shooter is in custody and state and local police are on the scene. I will continue to monitor the situation in conjunction with law enforcement.”
I have been briefed on the situation at Bridgewater College. The shooter is in custody and state and local police are on the scene. I will continue to monitor the situation in conjunction with law enforcement.
— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) February 1, 2022
Federal authorities, including members of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) also responded to a shooting outside a special education school in Richfield, Minnesota on Tuesday.
Richfield Police Chief Jay Henthorne confirmed during a press conference that two students were critically shot on the sidewalk outside the school One student died at the hospital of their injuries. The shooting suspects fled the scene and remain at large.
1 student dead, 1 critical from shooting at 12:07pm out front of South Education Center, police just said. Shooter at large. Small groups seen getting on buses, 2:20pm. Nearby park for pick-ups. Alternative school ~200 students, preK-age 21. #Richfield, #Minnesota video:@kare11 pic.twitter.com/vTtoUBj3bx
— Alex Belser (@AlexBelser) February 1, 2022
The shootings come on the same day CNN reported 13 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) had to lock down or postpone classes on Tuesday, the first day of Black History Month, due to bomb threats. At least one of the colleges, Howard University, received a bomb threat the day earlier on Monday.
