Suspect In Riverside School Hostage Situation Dies

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — An hours-long standoff at Castle View Elementary School involving a parent and a teacher ended Tuesday evening with the parent dead.

The hostage situation, which began at 11:12 a.m. at the Riverside school, began when a parent barricaded himself in a classroom taking a female teacher hostage. The situation prompted officials to evacuate children to a nearby park and lockdown the school.

Riverside officers entered the classroom around 6 p.m. Although details weren't released, shots were heard outside of the school. The suspect, who was seen taken out of the school on a stretcher, died.

The teacher, identified as Linda Montgomery, was physically unharmed but taken to a hospital for an evaluation, officials said.

Watch Now: Riverside School Hostage Situation Ends With Suspect Dead

Earlier in the day, Ryan Railsback, a spokesman with the Police Department, said the suspect was in a physical altercation with a male staff member, sending the victim to a hospital for minor, facial injuries.

After the altercation, he went into a classroom taking Montgomery hostage, Railsback said.

Railsback said authorities believe the suspect bypassed the front desk when he entered the school.

It's unclear if the suspect had a weapon, but witnesses told reporters they saw the man holding two bags before entering the classroom.

The students were on a lunch break when the incident was first reported, prompting officials to evacuate them to nearby Castle View Park, according to Justin Grayson, a spokesman for Riverside School District.

School was canceled for the rest of the week, officials said.

AMR paramedics in tactical gear just showed up at Castle View Elementary pic.twitter.com/MGBTEqWzXD
— Brian Rokos (@Brian_Rokos) October 31, 2017

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--Reported by Hoa Quách and Renee Schiavone / Photo via Google Maps screenshot