1 student dead, another critically injured in shooting outside Minnesota school

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting, police said.

February 1, 2022, 9:20 PM

One student is dead and another is critically injured after being shot on the sidewalk outside of a school Tuesday in Richfield, Minnesota, according to police.

The incident took place around noon outside the South Education Center and the suspects fled the scene, Jay Henthorne, chief of Richfield Police, told reporters.

The cause of the shooting is still under investigation.

Two unidentified suspects were arrested in connection with the shooting after police executed "simultaneous search warrants" at two addresses around 6 p.m. Tuesday, the Richfield Police Department said in an update.

A handgun was also recovered, police said.

Officers are not looking for any additional suspects at this time.

PHOTO: Police vehicles sit in front of South Education Center Academy in Richfield, Minn., on Feb. 1, 2022.
Police vehicles sit in front of South Education Center Academy in Richfield, Minn., on Feb. 1, 2022.
Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was on the scene and assisting with the investigation.

PHOTO: Police vehicles sit in front of South Education Center Academy in Richfield, Minn., on Feb. 1, 2022.
A police vehicle sits near school busses in front of South Education Center Academy in Richfield, Minn., on Feb. 1, 2022.
Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images

Erica Barlow, who is the principal at nearby Richfield Middle School, sent a letter to parents informing them of the incident.

"The officers had weapons drawn and were in bullet-proof vests. It is unlikely that many students witnessed the event, as they were in class at the time," she wrote. "However, it is important that you are aware of the incident in the event that your child hears about it, as some children may be deeply impacted by this type of news."