Wisconsin High School Hostage Taker Dies

Hostage Taker in "Grave Condition" After Shooting Self at Marinette, Wis. High School, Says Chief — Personal Photo

Samuel Hengel died Tuesday, one day after he shot himself when police entered the classroom where he was holding a teacher and students hostage, say police.

Samuel Hengel died Tuesday, one day after he shot himself when police entered the classroom where he was holding a teacher and students hostage, say police.

Hengel, armed with a handgun, held nearly two dozen students and a teacher hostage in a Wisconsin high school for about five hours before shooting himself when police broke into the classroom, authorities said Monday. No other injuries were reported.

Officers who were outside the Marinette High School classroom said they heard three gunshots shortly after 8 p.m. and busted through the door, said Police Chief Jeff Skorik. The 15-year-old male gunman then shot himself. Skorik said the teen was taken to an area hospital and his condition was not immediately known Monday night.

Five of the 23 students who had been taken hostage about 3 p.m. had been released about 20 minutes before police entered the classroom because they told the gunman they had to use the bathroom, Skorik said.

The other 18 students and the female teacher, who had acted as a mediator between the hostage-taker and authorities, were released unharmed once officers were inside.

Marinette, a town of about 12,000 people, sits on the border with Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The high school has an annual enrollment of approximately 800 students, according to its website.

A student armed with a handgun held nearly two dozen students and a teacher hostage in a Wisconsin high school for about five hours before shooting himself when police broke into the classroom, authorities said Monday. No other injuries were reported.

Officers who were outside the Marinette High School classroom said they heard three gunshots shortly after 8 p.m. and busted through the door, said Police Chief Jeff Skorik. The 15-year-old male gunman then shot himself. Skorik said the teen was taken to an area hospital and his condition was not immediately known Monday night.

Five of the 23 students who had been taken hostage about 3 p.m. had been released about 20 minutes before police entered the classroom because they told the gunman they had to use the bathroom, Skorik said.

The other 18 students and the female teacher, who had acted as a mediator between the hostage-taker and authorities, were released unharmed once officers were inside.

Marinette, a town of about 12,000 people, sits on the border with Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The high school has an annual enrollment of approximately 800 students, according to its website.