Marshall County High School in Benton the Latest School to Fall Victim to a Mass Shooting

 

Benton Kentucky High School Shooting

The small Western Kentucky town of Benton now joins the growing list of US towns that have been plagued with gun violence in our schools.

UPDATED: 1/29/2018

At 8:57 on the morning of January 23, a 15-year-old student of Marshall County High School walked into his school carrying a handgun. It is not known in these early stages how the young man got a hold of the gun, but what is known is what he did with it.

Over the next several minutes, the student began a spree shooting through the halls of the high school. According to a statement from Governor Matt Bevin, this caused the deaths of a 15-year-old boy named Preston Cope and a 15-year-old girl named Bailey Holt along with 12 other injuries from gunshot wounds as well as 5 other injuries that were not gunshot related.

At this point, it is expected that those victims who were just injured during the spree will recover in good time.

As for the shooter, their name has recently been released. A son of a local online newspaper editor, Gabe Parker, 15, surrendered to local authorities following his shooting rampage, where he has since been taken in by police and may be tried as an adult for the crimes he committed against the student body of Marshall County High.

Obviously, it is very early in the investigation right now, so details are currently a bit scarce, but as time rolls along and more information comes into us, ConcealedCarry.com will be there to pass the knowledge onto you.

The Marshall County Schools Superintendent Trent Lovett took to Twitter following the attack to express his sympathy to those involved.

 

We at ConcealedCarry.com would also like to send our heartfelt wishes to the victims and their family and friends. Our mission here is to help protect our flock from criminality’s dark, fiendish ways and we sincerely hope that someday in our future we will never see an event like this again.

What do you all think of this tragedy? Is there any way that you feel it could have been avoided? Do you feel it would have been better or worse if there were armed security at the school to try and take down the shooter before the police arrived? Let’s start a discussion in the comments below.

15 Comments

  1. Darkwing on January 30, 2018 at 6:33 am

    This school just like all the schools in the US of A are a “Gun Free Zone”, by order of the federal/ state government. That is one reason why this happened. Listen up sheeple: it is not a RINO or a DINO issue, both sides are to blame. Another question: where was the school resource officer: the COP, the Gestapo????? ALSO what meds was this shooter on???

  2. terry on February 3, 2018 at 10:53 am

    I live in a town of 7200 in South Dakota and we have an armed officer in our school to stop this event, it is not that hardtop protect your children!

  3. Richard Gonyea on February 3, 2018 at 11:01 am

    I feel there should be security at the schools be it a Police or Peace Officer ,I do believe that a shooter would not be able to kill and hurt so many people ,I also think doors should be able to lock going into the class room ,a teacher or student could hit a button that would cause the doors to release close and lock all in one touch of the button,these set ups are around ask anyone who works in a prison system ,no I am not saying schools should be like prisons but the metal door between kids and staff would prevent a lot of loss of life and injuries

  4. Donald on February 3, 2018 at 11:01 am

    The weapons should have been on the person that Owned it or it should’ve been in a secure location at his house where he if she’ll put in a got a hold of

  5. David Sharp on February 3, 2018 at 11:39 am

    I don’t know of any easy solution to this type of crime. My personal opinion is to instill a moral ideal in our children. Taking time to instil ethics and that taking a life is a last resort in any situation. This can be seen with the negotiators used in a hostage situation. When a death of an assailant is necessary, it is their choice. Training and arming Teachers and those in the education system seems to be an unfortunate road to go down. Home teaching from parents is the best initial preventive approach. I also feel by exposing youth to fire arms and training will instill respect for the real power of these items. The use of any weapon is not like the action video games popular, it is a real finality for both parties as the user will be held accountable for actions, it ends their life as well as the victim. Depersonalization by not exposing the youth to any weapon is to not teach reality and respect.

  6. Chuck on February 3, 2018 at 12:05 pm

    One of the motivations behind a mass murderer (regardless of method) is the fame that follows. Some are dissatisfied with their life and decide that they will go out in a “blaze of glory” where their name will be remembered for a long time – essentially giving them immortality and the attention they crave.
    So would it be a good idea to NOT announce their name and deny their path to fame?

  7. David Barnett on February 3, 2018 at 12:11 pm

    @David Sharp, just one of the reasons why people use this method of releasing their anger is the fact that they really are not held accountable. Even if this person is tried as an adult their punishment will not be meted out for decades, depending on the state laws. All states should have the same laws when it comes to murder, and that is the death penalty. Have you seen the new laws in California, even if a person is given Life in prison without parole, they can apply for parole once they have been in prison for at least 25 years and they have reached the age of 60. Where is the punishment phase of their conviction ?

  8. Doug on February 3, 2018 at 2:05 pm

    First, even with an armed police officer at the school, if there was one, the old adage stays true. “There’s never a cop when you need one” and “when seconds count, the cops are minutes away.” The shooter could have just gone the opposite direction as the officer. Seems he may have been targeting the kids shot and we all know a motivated criminal will find a way to commit his crime. It being a “Gun Free Zone” to begin with sure doesn’t help deter this act. If kids could be or be taught to be more inclusive of others, it would go a long way to avoiding these incidents of disassociated youth lashing out. Many things were needed to “prevent” this act but to blame one is foolish (like guns). Perhaps access to mental health support or diagnostics was needed. One other thing is, calling this a “tragedy”, that implies that injury was caused by some uncontrollable factor, like the damage a tornado causes or a hurricane. This was a deliberate act of criminal violence that could have been foreseen and/or prevented thru a myriad of sources and levels. The injury caused is horrific but, just like naming your enemy, we have to call this what it is to start attacking the problem. It’s still a “mass shooting” despite the fact that not more than 4 people died, so let’s start there.

  9. Lee Wilson on February 3, 2018 at 2:13 pm

    It’s tragic that the movie and television industries glorify gun violence and wanton killing so much but are the first to scream and complain when a 15 year old acts on some impulse that his imitate mind imagined. Sensory overload is a real disease that affects people-especially adolescents. With video games and the entertainment industry, it is a wonder more violence does not occur

  10. Tim Moore on February 3, 2018 at 5:14 pm

    I can’t find any reason why someone would do this, but if this is what is on their mind there is not much we can do to stop it, an armed officer on scene can limit the numbers. The only way to stop this all together would be watching your children for any signs of problems, yes parental involvement and finding better releases for pent up rage.

  11. Kevin Goebel on February 3, 2018 at 6:22 pm

    The prohibition (When has a prohibition ever stopped the criminal or the crazy?) against concealed carry in schools by licensed permit holders should be ended. Those schools which do have a police officer on the premises have an improved response time, but most schools are large enough that a deranged shooter could avoid the officer long enough to fire quite a few shots (assuming they don’t ambush the officer first).

    I wouldn’t require teachers or staff to be armed, but if I were on a school board, I would consider applicants for teachers or staff having a concealed carry permit to be a positive factor in making hiring decisions.

    if politicians don’t have the courage to suggest lifting the prohibition for public schools, they should at least allow it for private schools and universities that decide they want the option.

  12. Bill on February 3, 2018 at 6:23 pm

    Most of the responsibility should start right at home. It seems that many of the parents are so busy making a living that they are failing to make a life. The kids are coming in second to what? The kids are not disciplined like we were in the older days for one reason, we wouldn’t want to hurt the little person’s feeling and second, there are just so many people sticking their noses where they really don’t belong–in someone else’s life. People are set on doing damage or harm to others and that will happen no matter what laws are promolgated or rammed down our throats. Let’s wake up, look around and get our acts together. The government is forcing U.S. how to live under their rule and not the rule of GOD and those rules established by our forefathers.

  13. Question asker on February 3, 2018 at 11:00 pm

    I have a question. Was the boy that did this bullied? Knowing someone who had a kid that was bullied to the point the kid threatend suicide. The parents of this kid went round and round with the faculty who all said their kid was the problem. The problem was a boy woods father was on the school board and he was a local police chief. His kid child do no wrong. Typical chronieism. The kid finally quit school as soon as he was old enough because it was the only way he could escape it. My point is when there is no help for a bullied kid they get desperate and they don’t reason like adults. I would love to know how this kid was treated in school.

  14. Paula on February 4, 2018 at 6:42 pm

    I think teachers in EVERY school across America need to be trained in handling a firearm & be allowed to conceal carry a weapon!!
    The STUPIDEST thing this country ever did was create ‘gun free zones’. THAT’S WHERE MOST SHOOTINGS HAPPEN!

  15. Been there on February 6, 2018 at 11:42 am

    These things are happening more now because we don’t allow God in our schools. Bullying only happens when they are in their friends presence. Get a bully alone and you will see how much they are a coward.

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