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Lifesaving 911 tip-off allowed cops to get to middle school BEFORE teenage gunman could unleash havoc: Boy, 14,exchanged fire with officers before killing himself

A 14-year-old boy killed himself inside an eastern Indiana middle school after he was confronted by police about a threat to 'commit a...

A 14-year-old boy killed himself inside an eastern Indiana middle school after he was confronted by police about a threat to 'commit a violent act' on Thursday morning, investigators said.
Law enforcement stated no other students or staff were injured during the shooting at David W. Dennis Intermediate School in Richmond, where the teenager ultimately shot himself in the head after exchanging gunfire with cops. 
Authorities have not yet named the teen. 
They were able to get to the scene before the suspect because they had been tipped off about a possible threat of an armed person intending to hurt others. 
'It is important to emphasize that due to the result of advance notification of the potential for a violent act at the school, the school had initiated their lockdown procedure which clearly prevented injury to students and faculty even though the suspect was able to enter the school,' said Indian State Police Captain David Bursten said at a news conference. 

Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter at a press conference Thursday afternoon: 'It breaks my heart to stand here and say the things I have to say to you.'
Richmond Mayor David Snow said the incident was 'another example of gun irresponsibility' and 'poor mental health access'.
'Today is a tragic day in Richmond,' Snow said. 'Gun violence such as this needs to be a part of our country’s history.'
Authorities are trying to to determine how the teenager got the firearm. He was not a student at the school but he was from the Richmond district.
Law enforcement headed over at 8.21am when they were told in a 911 call about an incident that began off the school grounds.
A witness saw the suspect leave a silver car and run into the building filled with students. 
Shots were exchanged outside the building as the gunman shot out the glass of a locked entry door to the school, and ran inside with police officers in pursuit.
The suspect was found in the stairwell of the second floor where shots were exchanged again, Richmond Police Department Chief Jim Branum said.
He then turned the gun on himself and an alert stating the incident was over went out 9.10am.
It is unknown whether any shots fired by officers hit the suspect. Law enforcement couldn't immediately confirm how many shots were fired or by whom.

'The teen suspect decided to take his own life,' Indiana State Police Sgt. John Bowling said.
He added: 'Local police had received information and they reacted on that very swiftly, and I think because of their swift reaction and also the swift reaction at the school that no student injuries happened.' 
Bowling added that lives may have been saved because the speedy response of several departments and individuals. 
His team was joined by the Richmond Police Department and Wayne County Sheriff’s Department. Reid Health trauma services attended in case of a 'mass casualty' situation.  
Bowling noted that the outcome may have spared lives, 'mainly because someone knew something, and they said something'.
The officer praised the school for their handling of the incident too. 
'The school was able to follow procedures to help protect students,' Bowling noted.
Bowling didn't detail what information was given to police, but he said officers are investigating at the school and another site.
Middle School loaded the children onto buses and transferred the students to Richmond High School to be accounted for. They were later reunited with parents and guardians at Civic Hall.
Parents were in shock that the incident happened in their small town. 
'It’s horrible. I want my kid. It was a total shock,' Denise Holland whose 11-year-old attends the school told the Palladium-Item
The mother first heard about the incident because she was notified by a friend who saw it on Facebook. 
She added: 'You see it on TV all the time but you never think it’s going to happen to your own child. I’m scared of her emotional state.' 

A Twitter alert went out 8.39am Thursday morning saying the school was on lockdown and nobody was able to leave
A Twitter alert went out 8.39am Thursday morning saying the school was on lockdown and nobody was able to leave

Dennis Middle School loaded the children onto buses to be accounted for before reuniting them with parents and guardians at Civic Hall
Dennis Middle School loaded the children onto buses to be accounted for before reuniting them with parents and guardians at Civic Hall
Other Richmond schools continued as usual on Thursday after the deadly shooting
Other Richmond schools continued as usual on Thursday after the deadly shooting
Angela Gates heard about what happened at her daughter's school after charging her phone, which had lost power, after waking up.
When it turned on she received the alerts.
'I’m still in my pajamas,' Gates admitted, adding that she didn't stop to take the ID the school required for pickup and her mother brought it to her later. 'I jumped up and put on my slippers and walked out of the house. I said, Mom, I have to be here. If she (Angela’s daughter) doesn’t see me here she’s going to lose her mind.' 
Other Richmond schools continued as usual Thursday. 
All students and staffers were safe following the shooting, said Bridget Hazelbaker, a spokeswoman for Richmond Community Schools. 
She told the Palladium-Item that the suspect was the only person injured in the shooting.
The investigation is ongoing.
Governor Eric Holcomb said in a statement: 'We will continue to work with the school and Superintendent Jennifer McCormick to do everything possible to assist the community and support all those impacted by this terrible unfolding situation.'