2 Arrested After Shooting At Richfield School: Police

RICHFIELD, MN — Two people were arrested in connection with a Tuesday afternoon shooting that left one person injured and another dead outside the South Education Center in Richfield.

The Richfield Police Department said Tuesday night that two suspects were arrested after police searched two locations in Minneapolis. Police did not release the suspects' identities.

The department said officers recovered a handgun.

Police said Tuesday night they were not looking for additional suspects but were continuing to process evidence related to the shooting.

The Star Tribune identified the victim as high school student Jamari Rice.

"This is a tragic day in the city of Richfield," Henthorne said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. "Hearts and prayers and thoughts go out to District 287 students, their families, and their community."

The shooting occurred just after 12 p.m. Tuesday on a sidewalk outside the front entrance of the South Education Center, located on Penn Avenue South. Police said they found two students who were shot when they arrived.

Both students were taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center, where one of them later died, Henthorne said.

Special agents from the federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive — in addition to local police — responded to the shooting.

The South Education Center went into a "hard" lockdown following the shooting, according to a statement from District 287.

"Officers conducted a search of the school and surrounding area and determined no further threat existed," Richfield police said in a news release.

Rebecca Brannon — an independent journalist — shared a photo from the scene showing backpacks scattered outside the school on the sidewalk and blood in the snowbank.

Richfield Middle School was also impacted by Tuesday's incident when officers "accidentally showed up outside Richfield Middle School in response to an emergency call from the South Education Center," RMS Principal Erica Barlow said.

"Officers had weapons drawn and were in bullet-proof vests. It is unlikely that many students witnessed the event, as they were in class at the time," Barlow said in a statement on the school's website. "However, it is important that you are aware of the incident in the event that your child hears about it, as some children may be deeply impacted by this type of news."

When police realized their mistake, they went to the South Education Center, Barlow said.

The South Education Center is a school that serves students with "unique needs in a variety of programs." It serves students across the west Twin Cities metro, from pre-k through high school.

Richfield Police Department said it plans to hold another press conference Wednesday at Richfield City Hall, with details to be released Wednesday morning.