Heroes emerge from shooting at Harrisburg High School

ARGUS LEADER

Students shaken, secure after Harrisburg shooting

A student entered the school's main office and struggled with Principal Kevin Lein before taking out a handgun, police said. The student fired one shot, hitting Lein in the arm and leaving the principal with what Holbeck described as a "flesh wound."

No students were injured.

Police were called at about 10 a.m. and the school was placed on lockdown three minutes later.

"All the kids are safe, and that's really the main message here," Sioux Falls Police spokesman Sam Clemens said.

Students were evacuated and bused to Harrisburg's South Middle School at about 11 a.m. to be reunited with parents.

The shooting sparked a district-wide response. All other Harrisburg schools locked their doors when notified, going into a "shelter-in-place" response, Clemens said. At least one police officer responded to each school as a precaution.

Activities Director Joey Struwe helped Rollinger hold the student until police arrived.

Assistant Principal Ryan Rollinger (Photo: Submitted)

Rollinger was visibly shaken, Holbeck said.

"I have a principal who suffered a bullet wound," Holbeck said. "I have an assistant principal who got a little roughed up."

Despite the scare, Lein seemed to be recovering from his injuries. His wife, Amy, said he was released from a hospital Wednesday afternoon.

Lein, an impassioned educator who has spent recent years making major changes in the classroom, used the intercom after the shooting to express his love for students.

Lein later called Holbeck from the hospital.

"He is in very good spirits," Holbeck said. "His first question was how am I doing, so that tells you a little bit about him."

The school's quick response started when staff pushed "panic buttons" to alert police the school was going into lockdown, and then called 911, Holbeck said.

Kevin Lein, Harrisburg High School principal, on Sept. 3 (Photo: Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Harrisburg educators conduct yearly drills to prepare for the worst, Holbeck said.

"For years we've been — schools have been trying to figure out how to prepare for this," Holbeck said. "And you hope it never happens in your backyard."

He said he was happy with the response, not with the events that led to the shooting.

"We certainly would change that people think about other options than using guns," Holbeck said. "And that's just a shame."

School officials asked parents to keep a safe distance before the lockdown ended. Parents were updated about response plans through the district's emergency alert system.

Chane Patten, 41, couldn't help but drive to the high school before he knew what would happen with his 15-year-old son, a freshman. He stood on a gravel path, south of the entrance to the school's parking lot.

"They asked parents to stay away," Patten said. "Which is kind of difficult to do."

A state patrol car and other vehicles blocked access to the lot. Sirens flashed in the distance as responders helped evacuate students and sweep the school grounds.

Police were in the early stages of the investigation but believe the student acted alone, Clemens said.

Sioux Falls Police information officer Sam Clemens gives the latest updates on the shooting.