Standoff with shooter ends peacefully near Missouri school

A gunman who fired multiple shots from inside his home, 300 yards away from a northwest Missouri elementary school, surrendered to authorities late Friday after a nearly five-hour standoff, a police spokesman said.

Gladstone Police Capt. Ken Buck told the Los Angeles Times that authorities had yet to determine what led the suspect to open fire, apparently through a window or door of his house, about 1 p.m. The shots came in at least three groupings, spread apart.

Linden West Elementary School went on lockdown. Hundreds of children who had gathered with staff in the gym were evacuated and taken to a nearby middle school by bus for their parents to pick them up. Police provided escort on the buses, the North Kansas City Schools district said on its website.

“The school wasn’t really involved, but the safety measures the district had in place went very well and the students were evacuated without incident,” Buck said.

As law enforcement surrounded the house, crisis negotiators communicated with the gunman throughout the afternoon. By phone, negotiators also reached his parents, who lived in the home as well and may have provided information that helped authorities get the man to peacefully leave the house just after 6 p.m., Buck said.

No one was injured, police said.

Authorities said the shooter was male but did not specify whether he is an adult or minor. His identity was expected to be released later Friday.

Some parents expressed gratitude via Twitter. Christina Mychalczuk wrote, “Very appreciative of the actions of North Kansas City Schools and Linden West Elementary.”

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