Bailey Nicole Holt, Preston Ryan Cope Identified As Kentucky School Shooting Victims

Two students were killed and 17 injured after a shooter opened fire at Marshall County High School in southwestern Kentucky around 8. a.m on Tuesday. The shooting occurred when the students had gathered at the common area before the first class.

According to Kentucky State police commissioner Rick Sanders, the 15-year-old male suspect whose name is undisclosed since he’s a juvenile, was a student at the high school in Benton, Kentucky. The suspect was taken into custody and was charged with two counts of murder and multiple counts of attempted murder. It is unclear whether he would be charged as a juvenile or an adult.

The total toll of victims was 19 including the two students who were killed during the shooting. During the shooting, around 14 students suffered gunshot wounds and five others sustained other injuries.

One of the victims was Bailey Nicole Holt, 15, who died at the scene and Preston Ryan Holt, 15, who died at the hospital. According to Rick Sanders, six students were transported to the Vanderbilt Hospital — a level one trauma Centre in Nashville, including the deceased student. The five students who were injured while trying to escape gunshots were still reported to be in critical condition, he added.

The other injured students were being treated at local and regional hospitals, Gov. Matt Bevin said in a statement.

Referring to the incident, Bevin said: “It is unbelievable that this would happen in a small, close-knit community like Marshall County, as there is still much unknown, I encourage people to love each other," reports stated.

CNN identified one of the victims as Daniel Austin, 17, who is a special child. His mother told the news channel that her son was shot in the arm and was rushed to a nearby hospital in Benton.

Dr. Oscar Guillamondegui, M.D., MPH, Medical Director of Trauma ICU in Vanderbilt said: “This is the first time this institution has had to deal with a mass casualty from a school shooting, and I don’t think it’s someone anyone can be prepared for fully,” WKRN.Com reported.

Another victim named Hanah Danae, who was reportedly shot in the chest, wrote a post on Everipedia appraising people about her wellbeing. She said she was praying for everyone injured in the incident.

Although the suspect name wasn’t released by the authorities, a picture of the suspect being apprehended by the police surfaced on Daily Mail Online followed by a surge of social media posts identifying the shooter as Gabe Parker — a student and a band member at Marshall County High school. However, International Business Times could not confirm the veracity of reports on the social media.

Following the shooting, Gov. Bevin tweeted: "Tragic shooting at Marshall County HS...Shooter is in custody, one confirmed fatality, multiple others wounded...Much yet unknown...Please do not speculate or spread hearsay...Let’s let the first responders do their job and be grateful that they are there to do it for us."

In a tweet by the Kentucky State Police, Sanders said that a family resource center was set up at Kentucky Agriculture Extension office in Benton.