Two dead in US school shooting

Two people have died and 19 others were injured after a 15-year-old student reportedly started firing a handgun inside a rural Kentucky high school.

Marshall County police have confirmed that 15-year-old Bailey Holt was pronounced dead at the scene in the Marshall County High School, and 15-year-old Preston Cope died of his injuries later in hospital.

A further 14 students are being treated for gunshot wounds, while five more sustained injuries including a fractured jaw while trying to escape.

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The attacker, who has not been identified, opened fire with a handgun “apparently at random in a common area” just before 8am yesterday, and was apprehended by police about 15 minutes later, the BBC reports.

He will be charged with two counts of murder and multiple counts of attempted murder, according to Kentucky State Police.

“I see this guy draw from his side and he pulls out a pistol. I didn’t even know what was going on. And then it registered,” student Bryson Conkwright told media.

It was the second school shooting in as many days in the United States. On Monday, a 15-year-old female student was shot by a 16-year-old male in the city of Italy, Texas, according to CNN.