UK school gun suspect is led away in cuffs
THIS is the moment a teenager was taken away in handcuffs after allegedly shooting at a teacher at a school in England before being tackled to the ground.
He is suspected of rampaging around a sixth form college campus with a pistol and a knife while shouting ‘run for your lives’. Six form colleges are the equivalent of senior secondary schools in Ireland, for students aged from 16 to 19.
The suspect allegedly fired a series of blank shots directly at a lecturer before being rugby-tackled and pinned down by another teacher.
It is understood the two staff members suffered minor injuries during the attack at Crawley College, West Sussex, on Monday. Yesterday the heroic mechanics lecturer who faced down the gunman was pictured for the first time.
Steve Hopkins, 51, raced from his classroom to confront the attacker, who allegedly fired directly at the father-of-one. Witnesses said one teacher was stabbed in the hand. Student Eddie, 18, said: ‘Mr Hopkins was amazing. He just squared up to the masked man from a few yards away. He was telling students to go back into the classroom and run to safety. It’s such a shocking thing. Initially no one knew the gun was firing blanks so it was a really terrifying thing.’
Police and the college praised the teachers for their bravery.
College principal Vicki Illingworth said: ‘I cannot praise the courage, resilience and support shown by our staff enough.
‘They have been incredible and the care and compassion they shared with our students and with each other continues to fill me with admiration.’ She added: ‘We can confirm two members of our staff did sustain some minor injuries, which were not gunshot wounds.’
Reluctant hero Mr Hopkins last night declined to comment.
Armed police raided a terraced house in Crawley where the suspect is thought to have lived. Neighbours said the young man was a student at the college.
Armed police, snipers, dog units and two helicopters surrounded the college on Monday after the gunman burst onto the campus at about 3.10pm.
Police said the incident was being treated as isolated and was not terror-related. They are not seeking anyone else in relation to the attack and the 18-year-old remained in custody last night.
‘He squared up to the masked man’