Man Dead, Student Injured After Shooting in Minnesota High School Parking Lot

A Minnesota student was critically injured after a man opened fire in the school’s parking lot before turning the gun on himself.

At around 5 a.m. local time on Friday, Dec. 12, deputies were dispatched to the Stewartville High School parking lot in Stewartville, Minnesota, after receiving reports of a shooting, Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson said in a press conference.

They learned that two people had been shot in the parking lot, not far from a bus that was getting ready to transport the school’s wrestling team to a meet. Torgerson said about 40 members of the wrestling team were on the bus and heard a pair of gunshots.

“One of the teammates was walking in the parking lot when a gunshot was heard by others,” Torgerson said in the press conference. “As students were looking around to see what happened, they heard a second shot.”

A male teen was then found “on the ground in the parking lot by coaching staff” with a gunshot wound. He was transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance and immediately went into surgery.

His family informed sheriffs in an update on Friday afternoon that he was in critical but stable condition.

A second person — identified as an adult male — was also found on the ground with what police believe to be “a self inflicted gunshot wound.” Torgerson said that the second person was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Stewartville school students were reunited with their families after the incident. School counselors and other staff members were also dispatched to help those affected.

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Torgerson noted that the incident was “very rare” for Stewartville and an “emotional” time for all the authorities involved.

“Our condolences go out to everyone here behind me that they represent. Sorry, it’s emotional. This incident has impacted far more than just the families involved, obviously… This will be a difficult time moving forward,” he said.

Police are in contact with both the adult man’s and the teenager’s families as they continue their investigation into the incident.

Several Minn. lawmakers including State Sen. Carla Nelson, have since released statements following the incident. Nelson said in a statement obtained by CBS News, that what happened at Stewartville High School was “tragic. 

“My prayers are especially with the student who is fighting through surgery, with their family, and with the families, classmates, coaches, and teachers as they grieve from this unimaginable shock and pain,” said Nelson. “I am grateful to law enforcement and first responders for acting quickly. May we all hold this community and everyone involved in our strongest prayers.”