One person injured in Omaha school shooting, suspect in custody

UPDATE (1:46 PM): Kimberly Jackson, Principal of Northwest High, issued the following statement:

"Dear Northwest High staff, students and families, 

Our school is our second home. It is where we learn together and build a community that unites families and spans generations. Northwest students, staff and families are so incredibly dear to me. 

I cannot adequately express my gratitude to everyone who responded today. Our students and staff followed the Standard Response Protocol, showing incredible strength and courage. Omaha Police and Omaha Fire rushed to campus and secured our school. District staff and safety teams coordinated our reunification process. Families showed patience and grace through what must have been an agonizing wait to hold their loved one again.  

Our hearts are with our young person who was hurt today and their family. 

Having completed our reunification process and students at home, evening activities will be canceled. Tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, will be a non-student day at Northwest High. We will welcome students back on Thursday, Sept. 12.  

We will have supports available for students and staff. It will take time to process what happened today. It is okay to struggle. To be upset. To be angry. We will be here for one another.  

Open communication is important to us. We have shared updates every 30 minutes throughout the afternoon, and this will mark the final communication in that series of updates. 

If you or someone you know needs immediate support, students and families can call 1-833-980-7233 24/7. Staff may access Employee Assistance Program resources in OneOPS. 

Please take care through the time to come. We are here for you."

UPDATE (1:21 PM): Omaha Public Schools (OPS) has provided an update saying, "The majority of students have been reunified with family members who arrived at the school," and buses left Northwest High at around 3:00pm Central.

However, OPS says, "Staff will remain on site with any students who are waiting to be picked up."

UPDATE (12:39 PM): According to an update by Omaha Public Schools (OPS), they, along with law enforcement, are continuing to release students as part of the "reunification process."

Not only that, OPS says, "Out of an abundance of caution, several schools in the northwest part of our school district entered the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) Secure" Tuesday afternoon.

During that time, OPS says, "All exterior doors are locked, and no one is allowed in or out of the building as classes continue as normal inside."

However, OPS listed the following schools that were under the protocol and have since resumed normal operations:

• Adams Elementary
• Davis Middle
• Hale Middle
• Hartman Elementary
• Pinewood Elementary
• Springville Elementary

OPS further says, "Dismissal will proceed at each of those schools as planned."

UPDATE (12:03 PM): According to OPD, the victim was a 15-year-old student who was in critical condition when he was found inside the school, and that the shooting was an isolated incident between two students.

The school, according to OPS, went into lockdown at around 12:30pm Central after authorities received a report of the shooting.

In addition, OPD says the suspect, "also believed to be a student," was taken into custody before 1:00pm Central after he was found in the area of 80th and Bauman Streets.

OPD, in a post on X, also says reunification has stated.

OMAHA, Neb. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - Police are responding to a school shooting at Omaha Northwest High School Tuesday.

Omaha Police Dispatch confirmed there is one victim at the school who was critically injured and rushed to the hospital.

Officers searched for the shooter, but did not give a description of the suspect. However, the Omaha Police Department (OPD) said, in a post on X, they have the alleged shooter in custody.

A police helicopter was seen circling the area, and crime-scene tape has been put up on the campus.

According to an alert from Omaha Public Schools (OPS), Northwest High lifted the lockdown at 1:30pm Central, with OPD following up that the school was secured.

Omaha police said the reunification area for parents and students will be at the football stadium west of the school.

"Our department sent a wireless emergency alert to the surrounding area of Northwest High School to communicate police presence and there is no public safety threat at this time," OPD said in an updated post on X.

According to sources, both the school district and police urged patience as they work to reunite students with their families.

OPS issued the following steps about how students will be released:

• Students who ride buses will be transported from campus first.
• Once that is complete, students who do not ride the bus each day will be released to families who are on site. 
• Students who walk or drive themselves to school each day will then be released.

KYMA will keep you updated on this breaking news story.