School hostage taker dies

A STUDENT armed with a handgun held nearly two dozen students and a teacher hostage in a US high school for about five hours before shooting himself when police broke into the classroom. He later died from his injuries, authorities said.

No other injuries were reported.

Officers outside the Marinette High School classroom, Wisconsin, said they heard three gunshots shortly after 8pm and broke down the door, Police Chief Jeff Skorik said. The 15-year-old male gunman then shot himself.

Student Zach Campbell said he and his classmates had been watching a film about Greek myths at the end of the school day when the hostage-taker pulled out a gun and shot the projector. He then fired another shot.

The teenager made students put their mobile phones in the middle of the room and broke his own phone when it rang. The class then spent six hours talking to him about hunting and fishing.

“We just wanted to be on his good side,” Zach said. “But he didn’t really seem like he wanted to hurt anybody.”

Zach was among five students who were released about 20 minutes before police entered the classroom after convincing the gunman they had to use the bathroom.

The other 18 students and the female teacher, who had acted as a mediator, were released unharmed once officers were inside.