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Parent Who Took Teacher Hostage At Riverside Elementary School Fatally Shot By Police Following Hours-Long Standoff
SWAT officers shot a parent who had taken a teacher hostage at a Riverside elementary school after a seven-hour standoff Tuesday. The suspect, identified as Luvelle Kennon, 27, died later that night at a hospital, according to a statement from the Riverside Police Department.
The Riverside Police and Fire Dispatch Center first received a call "regarding a disturbance and altercation" at Castleview Elementary School at 11:12 a.m. on Tuesday. The department received additional calls informing them that the incident has escalated into a barricaded hostage situation as they were responding to the initial call. All students were safely evacuated to neighboring Castleview Park by 1:25 p.m. Tuesday.
"After hours of trying to convince the suspect to surrender, the METRO [SWAT] Team entered the classroom to rescue the teacher and an officer-involved shooting occurred," according to a statement from the Riverside police. "The suspect was shot and the teacher was successfully rescued." ABC 7 reports that the SWAT team stormed the classroom room just before 6 p.m. Tuesday using flash-bang grenades.
The teacher, identified by the L.A. Times as Linda Montgomery, sustained minor injuries while being pulled into the school classroom by the suspect. A male substitute teacher was also hospitalized "after being struck by the suspect while attempting to intervene and prevent him from taking the other teacher hostage," according to the Riverside Police Department. That teacher sustained a broken nose and other facial injuries.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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