High school seige gunman dead

A middle-aged gunman walked into the high school in the US mountain town of Bailey, Colorado, yesterday, shot and critically wounded a student and then killed himself after police commando team members entered the building, authorities said.

Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener said authorities decided to enter the school after the suspect cut off negotiations and set a deadline. At the time, the gunman had turned four student hostages loose but was still holed up with two girls.

“It was then decided that a tactical solution needed to be done in an effort to save the two hostages,” the sheriff said, his voice breaking. “Entry was made. The suspect shot one of the hostages, then shot himself.”

He said the suspect had threatened his hostages virtually throughout the four-hour ordeal. The suspect was not immediately identified, and the sheriff was at a loss to explain a motive.

“I don’t know why he wanted to do this,” Wegener said.