2 killed in school shooting
‘At-risk’ kids targets
Two students were killed and the founder of an educational program for at-risk youth was injured in a “targeted” shooting at an Iowa school on Monday afternoon, authorities said.
The deadly shooting took place at the educational program Starts Right Here, which was founded by a local rapper William Holmes, and is connected to the Des Moines school system.
First responders rushed to the school around 1 p.m. and found two teenage students critically injured. Life-saving measures were taken at the scene, but the two students were later pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.
Holmes, whose stage name is William Keeps, was also wounded.
Des Moines police said three teenagers were in custody after cops pulled over a car about 2 miles from the scene shortly after the shooting.
One of the suspects, 18year-old Preston Walls, was charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of criminal gang participation, the Des Moines Register reported, citing police.
Walls entered a common area at the program with a handgun and then started shooting after Keeps tried to escort him out, police reportedly said.
Starts Right Here involves working with “urban youth who have been touched with real-life challenges,” according to the program’s website. The program was founded by Holmes, whose stage name is Will Keeps.
‘Terrifying’
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is on the Starts Right Here advisory board, said she was heartbroken.
“I’ve seen first-hand how hard Will Keeps and his staff works to help at-risk kids through this alternative education program,” Reynolds said in a statement. “My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families. Kevin and I are praying for their safe recovery.”
Nicole Krantz, who works near the school, witnessed someone fleeing from the building with police giving chase on foot and in patrol cars.
“We just saw a lot of cop cars pouring in from everywhere,” Krantz told the Des Moines Register. “It’s terrifying. We’re all worried.”