Illinois officer hailed as hero for stopping high school shooting

A school resource officer in Illinois is being hailed as a hero after stopping a gunman at a high school on Wednesday morning. 

The incident at Dixon High School ended when the officer shot an armed former student who opened fire at the campus, NBC 5 in Chicago reports.

“A lot of things went right today when a great many of them could have gone wrong,” Dixon Mayor Liandro Arellano Jr. told the station. 

{mosads}The 19-year-old suspect arrived at the campus around 8 a.m. and fired at the officer, who then returned fire, Dixon Police Chief Steven Howell said at a news conference. 

Howell commended the officer for his quick response. 

“I could not be more proud of the police officer and the way he responded to the situation. With shots ringing out through the hallways of the school, he charged towards the suspect and confronted him, head on,” Howell said. “Because of his heroic actions, countless lives were saved. We are forever indebted to him for his service and his bravery.”

The police chief said the suspect initially fired several shots near the school’s gymnasium, where he was soon confronted by the resource officer. The suspect then ran away and fired a shot at the pursuing officer, according to the police chief, who added that the officer returned fire and wounded the suspect.

Howell said the suspect was taken into custody and is currently receiving medical treatment for what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries. The officer who exchanged shots with the suspect will be put on paid administrative leave, which is routine. None of the other Dixon High students or staff were injured in the incident.

Dixon City Manager Danny Langloss said the suspect is believed to have acted alone and added that there are no further threats to student safety.