A sixth grade student has been taken into custody after a school shooting in the US state of Idaho.
US media report the unnamed girl pulled out a handgun out of her backpack after arriving at the Rigby Middle School in Rigby.
She unloaded several bullets in the hallway of the school, injuring two students and an adult.
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The gunshots sent students and adults fleeing in terror and many hid in hope they wouldn't become another statistic in America's unending school shooting nightmare.
Jefferson County Sheriff Steve Anderson said in a press conference following the dramatic incident: "During the shooting, a teacher disarmed the student and detained her until law enforcement took her into custody.
"We don't have a lot of details at this time of 'why' - that is being investigated. We're following all leads."
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Parents were promptly called to pick up their children from a neighbouring schoool and images show people in floods of tears and stress.
The three victims all received gunshots to their limbs and are expected to fully recover, according to ABC News.
Rigby Middle School student Yandel Rodriguez, 12, told the news outlet how scary the incident was.
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"Me and my classmate were just in class with our teacher - we were doing work - and then all of a sudden, here was a loud noise and then there were two more loud noises. Then there was screaming. Our teacher went to check it out, and he found blood."
Authorities are conducting an investigation into the shooting and haven't ruled out charging the sixth grader with three attempted murder charges.
They will also be looking into how a girl of such a young age managed to get a gun.
Sheriff Anderson said: "This is a very difficult and trying time for our community. We've had amazing support from partners across the state that have arrived to not only assist in the investigation but give us support with what we need."
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Jefferson School District Superintendent Chad Martin is horrified the school has become the second in the state's history to experience a shooting.
"This is the worst nightmare a school district could ever face," he said. "We prepare for it, but we are never truly ready for it. Our hearts and our prayers go out to the victims and their families and all those involved.
"We want to especially thank our community. The vast support we have received is overwhelming, and we are grateful to live in a community that cares about their students, schools and are willing to offer that support."
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A student at a high school in Notus pulled out a gun back in 1999. One student was injured by ricocheting debris.
Ten years earlier, a student at Rigby Junior High threatened a teacher and students with a gun and even took a girl hostage. No one was shot during that incident.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: School shooting, News, US News