Led away in cuffs, college shooting suspect
Staff praised for halting Sussex campus attacker
THIS is the moment a teenager was taken away in handcuffs after allegedly shooting at a teacher before being tackled to the ground.
He is suspected of rampaging around a sixth form college campus with a pistol and a knife while shouting ‘run for your lives’.
The suspect allegedly fired a series of blank shots directly at a lecturer before being rugby-tackled and pinned down by another teacher.
It is understood the two staff members suffered minor injuries during the attack at Crawley College, West Sussex, on Monday. Yesterday the heroic mechanics lecturer who faced down the gunman was pictured for the first time.
Steve Hopkins, 51, raced from his classroom to confront the attacker, who allegedly fired directly at the father-ofone. Witnesses said one teacher was stabbed in the hand. Student Eddie, 18, said: ‘Mr Hopkins was amazing. He just squared up to the masked man from a few yards away. He was telling students to go back into the classroom and run to safety.’
He added: ‘It’s such a shocking thing. Initially no one knew the gun was firing blanks so it was a really terrifying thing.’
Sussex Police and the college both praised the teachers for their bravery.
Chief Inspector Shane Baker said: ‘They put themselves in harm’s way in order to protect their students, fellow employees and the wider public, and I am hugely grateful for their quickthinking actions.’
College principal Vicki Illingworth said: ‘I cannot praise the courage, resilience and support shown by our staff enough.
‘They have been incredible and the care and compassion they shared with our students and with each other continues to fill me with admiration.’ She added: ‘ We can confirm two members of our staff did sustain some minor injuries, which were not gunshot wounds.’
Reluctant hero Mr Hopkins, who lives in Pulborough, West Sussex, last night declined to comment.
Armed police raided a £300,000 terraced house in Crawley where the suspect is thought to have lived. Neighbours said the young man was a student at the college.
Armed police, snipers, dog units and two helicopters surrounded the college on Monday after the gunman burst onto the campus at about 3.10pm.
Mrs Illingworth said counselling would be offered to all staff and students. The college remained closed yesterday.
Chief Inspector Baker said the incident was being treated as isolated and was not terror-related.
Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the attack and the 18-year-old remained in custody last night.