Posted on 06/24/2009 9:12:19 AM PDT by safetysign
Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas has died after being shot multiple times among students at the school’s weight room this morning, officials have confirmed.
Thomas was shot at point blank range, including once in the head, according to the school's business manager Pat Gosch. No one else was injured in the incident.
The suspected gunman is in custody.
The family of Ed Thomas released a statement through Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo:
"The family of Ed Thomas would like the media to know that Ed passed away shortly after arriving at Covenant Medical Center," the statement read.
Sports secretary Sue Muller said Thomas was supervising the early-morning weightlifting in Parkersburg when the shooting happened around 8 a.m. About 30 students were present at the time.
“The kids are all safe and counselors are meeting with them at the elementary school," High School Principal Dave Meyer said.
Thomas was life-flighted to Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo where he died.
An adult male believed to be the gunman was arrested after the incident was taken to the Butler County Jail in Allison. When asked if the man was a parent of a student, Butler County spokeswoman Holly Fokkena said, "not that I'm aware of, no."
"We do want to articulate, because I'm sure there are a lot of concerned parents, that no students were hurt or injured in this incident," said Jessica Lown, spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
Counselors are on scene for students, including several who witnessed the shooting.
Thomas has coached football for 37 years and has a career record of 292-84. He has led the Falcons to 19 state playoff appearances and two state titles, in 1993 and 2001.
Aplington-Parkersburg Superintendent Jon Thompson said Thomas, who came to Parkersburg in 1975, was a widely beloved icon in the community.
The person that killed Ed should be fried on National TV.
Wow, what a record.
Motive?
But there seems to have been one guy who really, really didn't like him.
The short video at this link illustrates the character of this man:
http://kcci.highschoolplaybook.com/video/223198.html
Kindof imponderable without any more information, but the smart money is probably bet on something to do with a love triangle.
Please add City and State to the title. The whole FReeper world doesn’t have the location of every high school in the country memorized.
(Call me grumpy this morning.)
Another example of how gun-free schools fail to stop shootings.
Yep.
Iowa, I think. Cedar Falls and Waterloo are in Iowa. I visited there when my sister’s husband was stationed there in the Air Force in the 50’s.
VERY sad.
Parkersburg is an Iowa community of 2,000 peopole.
Will be interested in info on the shooter and his relationship to the victim. Obviously not a random act.
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