GADSDEN, Alabama – A man who tried to enter a primary school in Alabama, where a summer program was being held, was shot dead by police on Thursday morning, authorities said.
Gadsden City Governor Tony Reddick told reporters that the “potential intruder” had gone to several doors trying to enter Walnut Park Primary School, which hosts a summer literacy program for 34 children. All the outer doors were locked and the principal contacted the school’s resource officer when he found out what was going on, Reddick said.
The resource officer confronted a man who tried to break into a marked police car on Rainbow City near the school, according to a statement from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. More Gadsden police officers have appeared to help, the statement said.
The man was shot dead after trying to take the resource officer’s gun, the agency said. The statement, which did not mention an attempt to enter the school, did not specify how many shots were fired and by whom.
Officials do not know if the man killed was a “passer-by” or something else, Reddick said.
Authorities did not immediately reveal the identity of the slain person or any details, including whether the person was armed or why he may have tried to enter the school or patrol car.
While the resource officer suffered minor injuries, no students were injured and most did not realize that something unusual had happened, Reddick said.
“Our main concern was simply to make sure that someone who is not authorized to be in our building will not enter and our children are safe,” he said.
Gadsden is about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northeast of Birmingham.
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