There’s a lot we don’t know yet about Monday’s death of an Austin-East student.
- We know a high school kid is dead.
- We know a KPD or school resource officer is hospitalized but expected to recover.
- We know the two exchanged gunfire inside a restroom at the school.
The most clarity came from a press statement from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, investigating the incident at the request of District Attorney General Charme Allen. School, both in-person and virtual, has been cancelled for A-E today and Wednesday (April 13-14).
This is incredibly sad for the staff and students at A-E and the families involved. Monday’s death, along with recent deaths by gun violence of other young people, is a tragedy for the entire Knoxville community. We’ve all got a responsibility to fix this.
State Rep. Sam McKenzie said this: I am at a loss to describe my sadness as yet another horrific act of gun violence has happened in my community. Austin-East High School is my alma mater and my heart goes out to the students, faculty and staff that were present for the senseless shooting today. I do not have the necessary words to convey my thoughts about the spiraling violent acts conducted by members of my community on members of my community. I am asking everyone that knows and loves East Knoxville to pray and contemplate the lives we have lost. I am also asking that we reclaim the sanctity of our beloved neighborhood! This is the fourth unnecessary shooting involving the Austin East community this year and we must make sure we take every step and make every effort to prevent these tragedies from continuing to occur.