An armed man who attacked a summer camp in Duncanville, Texas, died after being shot by police on Monday, authorities reported.
Some 250 children were at the campsite at Duncanville Fieldhouse, which was closed after a gunman opened fire. The subject attempted to enter a classroom, but the door was locked, Duncanville Police Deputy Chief Matthew Stogner said during a news conference.
The deputy chief said authorities responded to the farmhouse on the block 1700 of S. Main Street at 8: 45 am, two minutes after receiving calls about gunshots.
In the middle of the search, the agents confronted the gunman and shot him. When he was shot, the authorities provided assistance and later transferred them to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Stonger added that the investigation will be carried out by the Texas Department of Public Safety due to that the shooting involved a police officer.
Police indicated that the subject, whose name has not been released, entered the field house for children between 4 and 14 years through the main lobby doors with a gun. He exchanged words with a member of the camp staff and began firing a round, causing the incident to be reported to the police.
After the events, the camp counselors moved the children to an area They securely locked the doors. The attacker tried to enter a classroom; however, he was unable to enter because the gate was locked. He then shot the classroom door, where children were inside, Stogner said.
“We had to move them around the room because the building is glass and we had to find a safe space,” camp counselor Naomi Rodgers told NBC5, adding that she was working with some 40 children at the time they heard the shot.
“The shooter actually came to our door, and said if we didn’t let him see whoever he wanted to see, he would shoot on the spot”, detailed Rodgers.
After exchanging words with Rodgers, the subject moved towards the gym and was confronted by the police, starting the shooting.
Finally the The children were reunited with their parents when they were turned over by police from the Duncanville Independent School District, the cities of DeSoto and Cedar Hill, Stogner said.