Share/Bookmark

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Omaha School Shooting

Suspect Dead, 2 Principals Injured in Omaha School Shooting
Omaha World-Herald
(MCT)
OMAHA, Neb. – The Millard South High student who shot his principal and an assistant principal Wednesday and then killed himself posted a farewell message on Facebook.
Robert Butler Jr., 17, was found dead in a car from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at about 1:30 p.m. CST.

About 40 minutes earlier, he shot Principal Curtis Case and Assistant Principal Vicki Kaspar inside the school. He did not shoot any students.
Case was listed mid-afternoon in serious but stable condition at Creighton University Medical Center.
Kaspar was in critical condition at Creighton.
Millard Superintendent Keith Lutz described Case as “young and energetic … I’m sure he’ll pull through this.”
Robert was the son of Omaha Police Det. Robert Butler and attended Lincoln Southwest High School last year. A person familiar with the investigation said it is believed Robert used his father’s Glock.
The younger Butler’s body was found dead at in a red Honda Accord in a parking lot.
On an update to his Facebook page, filed from a mobile phone, Robert wrote:
“Everybody that used to know me I’m sry but Omaha changed me and (expletive) me up. and the school I attend is even worse ur gonna here about the evil (expletive) I did but that (expletive) school drove me to this. I wont u guys to remember me for who I was b4 this ik. I greatly affected the lives of the families ruined but I’m sorry. goodbye.”
Lincoln school officials said Wednesday that Butler transferred from Lincoln Southwest High School to Millard South on Oct. 6 but had not been forced to transfer.
“He was popular with students and seemed real pleasant,” said Southwest Principal Rob Slauson, who described Butler as “a fairly normal, average” student.
Friends, some crying, came to the school office about 2:45 p.m., after learning of Butler’s involvement via text messages.
“Obviously, we were in shock,” Slauson said.
Before moving to Omaha, Butler had spent his entire school career in Lincoln, first at Sheridan Elementary in south-central Lincoln and then at Scott Middle School and Lincoln Southwest, which are both on the southwestern edge of the city.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the Millard South community … And also to Robert Butler’s family,” Slauson said.
Omaha Police Chief Alex Hayes said the first call to 911 came in at 12:50 p.m. A school resource officer at Millard South put out a “Help an Officer” call, and several officers rushed to the scene.
Arriving officers learned that the suspect had fled in a red Honda. The car was located about 1:25 p.m.
The chief said it would take investigators awhile to determine the suspect’s motives.
The school was locked down immediately following the shooting.
Lutz said schools practice for these kinds of situations, but nothing can fully prepare students and teachers for the reality: “There are some things you are not going to be prepared for.”
He said the district would be looking at how Butler was able to bring the gun into the school.

Share