One dead in shooting at Spokane-area high school

John Bacon | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption First-hand accounts from the Spokane high school shooting Students at Freeman High School near Spokane, Washington describe the tense moments during and after the deadly shooting at their school.

A gunman opened fire Wednesday at a high school outside Spokane, Wash., killing one student and wounding at least three more, authorities said.

Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said the students were wounded in a shooting rampage at Freeman High School in Rockford, south of Spokane. Sacred Heart Hospital confirmed the three were in stable condition.

"The shooter has been apprehended and taken into custody," Schaeffer said.

Schaeffer said initial reports of more than one shooter were incorrect. He blamed echoes of gunshots in the school's hallways and "chaos" that unfolded as the shooting took place.

Detectives were conducting interviews with about 300 students, he said. Schaeffer added that some of the state troopers who responded to the shooting have children who attend the school.

"It's a very complex situation ... with an expansive amount of evidence to compile," he said. "They are bringing in detectives from all over to help."

This morning’s shooting at Freeman High School is heartbreaking. All Washingtonians are thinking of the victims and their families. — Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) September 13, 2017

Gov. Jay Inslee authorized all state agencies will do "whatever we can to help provide support and comfort" in the coming days and weeks.

"This morning’s shooting at Freeman High School is heartbreaking," Gov. Jay Inslee said in a statement. " All Washingtonians are thinking of the victims and their families."

Spokane Mayor David Condon also offered thoughts and prayers, describing the shooting as a "horrendous tragedy."

"Our hearts are broken by the events at Freeman High School this morning," he said. "This is a terrible day for the students, parents, teachers administrators and the rest of the close-knit community."

Spokane Public Schools said all its schools were in lockdown after the shooting was reported.

"Due to a reported shooting near Freeman High School, all southside SPS schools are currently in lockdown. Updates as information allows," the school tweeted. Minutes later the school said all its schools were in "full lockdown."

A little more than an hour later the school system tweeted that the lockdown was over.

Contributing: KREM-TV in Spokane; Associated Press