Wisconsin teen hostage-taker dies after shooting himself

Topic: School Shooting

Police say the 15-year-old Wisconsin boy who took 24 people in a classroom hostage Monday has died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Marinette Police Chief Jeff Skorik says sophomore Samuel Hengel of Porterfield, Wisconsin died at 10:44 a.m. Tuesday. Hengel shot himself as police stormed a classroom at Marinette High School Monday night.

The 23 students and a teacher who were held for several hours Monday afternoon were not injured.

Authorities said they did not know what might have motivated the boy who made no demands or requests during the standoff.

"As far as what caused this, it seems to be a mystery," Skorik said earlier Tuesday. "We have not been able to identify anything that precipitated this incident."

Student hostage Zach Campbell said Hengel seemed depressed, but he didn't think he meant his classmates any harm.

I didn't know really what to think. I was just hoping to get out alive," Campbell said Tuesday. "He didn't want to shoot any of us."

Campbell told The Associated Press that six of the gunman's close friends were in that class.

While speaking with reporters Shorik praised Valerie Burd, a social studies teacher, for keeping the teenage suspect calm and reassuring the hostages that they would be okay.

The Chief says Burd "kept a very cool head" during the lengthy ordeal, keeping the 15-year-old hostage-taker calm by chatting with him about hunting, fishing and movies.

Skorik says the boy refused to communicate with officials during the standoff, but allowed Burd to relay information to police.

Keith Schroeder, a former Marinette middle school teacher, said he had the gunman as a student and also knows the boy's teacher well. He said the teen's family is extremely involved in all their boys' lives.

"He's a fine young man, and I'm totally taken aback," Schroeder told The Associated Press. "Surprised, flabbergasted to say the least because this is a great family. It doesn't fit any of the things or the molds that you read about people. I couldn't say enough good things about the family."

Marinette, a city of about 12,000 people, lies about 50 miles north of Green Bay on the border with Michigan's Upper Peninsula. About 800 students attend the high school, according to its website.

City Councilman Bradley Behrendt said the district spent "a whole bundle of money" on classroom doors to make them more secure, but the school doesn't have metal detectors.

School was closed on Tuesday. District officials said they planned to offer counseling for students.

11/30/2010

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