Incident is at least 33rd School Shooting of 2017, 241st Since January 2013
MATTOON, Ill. – The Illinois chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement after an unidentified high school student opened fire in the cafeteria of Mattoon High School, injuring another student. According to media reports, a teacher disarmed the student and stopped the shooting. The student allegedly responsible for the shooting is in custody and the injured student is in stable condition.
Everytown research shows that this is at least the 33rd school shooting nationwide this year, and the 241st school shooting nationwide since January 2013.
STATEMENT FROM LAUREN QUINN, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH THE ILLINOIS CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Our hearts go out to the whole Mattoon High School community after today’s terrifying shooting. Students should be able to eat lunch without having to duck from gunfire, and no teacher should ever have to take the heroic actions one did today. Today was a chilling reminder of how urgently we have to work to reduce gun violence in our schools in our communities.”