St. Louis School Shooting: Locked Doors Bought 'Some Time' to Respond

A school shooting took place in St. Louis on Monday, and the school's locked doors may have bought officers "some time" in responding.

Shortly after 9 a.m., the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a shooting at the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. According to police, two victims were pronounced deceased following the shooting. Police also confirmed that the suspected shooter was killed after exchanging gunfire with the responding officers.

During a news conference, St. Louis Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams said that all of the doors at the high school were locked and that there were several security guards at each of the building's entrances. St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department interim Commissioner Michael Sack also said that one of the security guards noticed the suspected gunman attempting to enter the school and immediately called 911.

"It was that timely response by that security officer, the fact that the door did cause pause for the suspect, that bought us some time," Sack said during the news conference.

The shooting on Monday comes on the same day that Ethan Crumbley, the suspect accused of fatally shooting four students at Oxford High School in Michigan, pleaded guilty to four counts of murder, as well as to 19 other charges.

During the news conference on Monday, police did not identify the shooter or say how he was able to enter the school. However, Sack did say that the individual was believed to be in his 20s and was carrying a long gun.

In addition to the two victims that died during the shooting, police also said that several others were transported to a nearby hospital with an array of different injuries.

"Our children shouldn't have to experience this," St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said on Monday. "They shouldn't have to go through active shooter drills in case something happens. And unfortunately that happened today."

In addition to the St. Louis mayor, several other elected officials also responded to the shooting.

"Devastating news in St. Louis. I'm grateful for the swift response of local law enforcement. My office is in contact with local authorities and we stand ready to offer all assistance possible," Missouri Senator Josh Hawley said in a tweet.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner said, "St. Louis is grieving the loss of life in a place that should be free from violence: the classroom. The victims, their families and the entire St. Louis community are in my thoughts as we begin the long and complicated process of healing."

In a statement sent to Newsweek, Fred Guttenberg, whose child was killed in the Parkland school shooting, said, "Unfortunately, I am again left speechless."

"The truth is, I have said it before. It doesn't have to be this way. We can reduce gun violence. We need to vote for candidates who want to do more to reduce gun violence. The Safer Communities Act was a beginning. Now, we need more gun safety candidates to finish," Guttenberg told Newsweek.

Newsweek reached out to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for updated information.