Hostages released at Marinette High School

MARINETTE, Wis. - A hostage situation is now over at Marinette High School where 23 students and a teacher had been held hostage by a 15-year-old student for more than five hours Monday.

Marinette Police Chief Jeff Skorik says the suspect, a male student, suffered a self inflicted gunshot wound.

He was originally taken to Bay Area Medical Center, but was transferred to St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay. His condition is not being released at the request of his parents, according to a nursing supervisor.

Officials tell us there are no injuries to any of the students or the teacher.

Skorik says the 15-year-old had two handguns in the classroom. He says a high school administrator called authorities after 3 p.m. Monday to say an armed student had burst into a classroom.

At 7:40 p.m. five of the students were released from the room because they had to use the restroom. Skorik says the suspect agreed they could use it.

At 8:03 p.m. officers heard three gun shots, that’s when according to Skorik, officers entered the classroom and saw the suspect standing at the front of the room. Skorik says the suspect then shot himself and the rest of the hostages were evacuated.

Skorik says all students have been safely reunited with their families.

Marinette's Superintendent Tim Baneck says the high school will be closed Tuesday and doesn't know when it will re-open.

Baneck also says there will be grief support resources available for students and staff and anyone else who needs.

Baneck says the school and the county held a joint training last year on how to handle a situation such as this. He says the training paid dividends during the event Monday.