On January 21st, 2026, at 11:34 AM, a gunman entered the Liberty County Middle School and opened fire, prompting a major response from the Liberty County Sheriff's Office, the River City Police Department, and Bloxburg Valley Highway Patrol.
Events Leading to Shooting
January 21st was a relatively sunny day with a small chance of rain. Students entered the building at 6:45 AM without reported incident. Most of the incidents were localized student disputes with school staff and did not end up with injuries, let even deaths. Later, school officially started at 7:06.
At 11:32, the four-minute passing period for sixth period began at the school, with many students roaming the hallways to get to their classes.
Then, at 11:34, bystanders at the school reported hearing gunshots.
The Shooting
At 11:33, an unknown individual was reported to have entered the school office, set down a bag, and started to open it. When questioned by staff what was in the bag, he responded with "something to fear". A staff member notified the School Resource Deputy via radio. Since it was not a county-issued radio, no radio log is available.
At 11:34, the individual pulled out a Remington 870 shotgun, pumped it, and fired, instantly killing a staff member in the office. The school resource deputy was not in the office at the time, but still heard the shot and started running towards the office.
SRD: "LibComm, shots fired at LC Middle! units needed now!"
*CLEAR AIR TONE*
LibComm radio logs, 11:34 AM
Meanwhile, a teacher on the office pulled the school's lockdown alarm, which notified all the students in the hall that a full lockdown will occur shortly and had an alarm noise. Unfortunately, this lockdown occurred during a passing period, and the school student handbook failed to provide any advice for students on what to do if it sounds during the passing period, causing students to be confused on whether they should go to a classroom or leave the school; both ways were used.
The suspect then left the office and opened fire on the School Resource Deputy, and struck him with two pellets from his shotgun.
SRD: "DROP THE FUCKING GUN!"
Suspect: [GUNSHOT]
SRD: "AGH!"[Heavy Breathing] [Getting Behind Cover] "Fuck.. Fuck.."
SRD: [RETURNING GUNFIRE]
SRD: [Radio] "LibComm, shots fired, officer hit! Officer in trouble!"
Bodycam Audio, 11:34 AM
The gunman advanced, even while wounded, and fired at students still in the hallways, killing six, while the SRD attempted to place a tourniquet on his own arm.
The LCSO Sheriff SWAT team later arrived and took point on the entrances and exits of the building. At 11:36, due to the lockdown alarm in effect, no passing period ending bell was sounded to avoid teachers from having classes as usual during a lockdown. At 11:43, the SWAT team went inside the school to look for the shooter.
By then, the shooter had continued to shoot at students and staff who were still in the hallways and in the school. Thankfully, no one was killed in this barrage but 18 more were injured.
LCSO SWAT at 11:45 found the suspect.
SWAT Operator 1: "HANDS UP NOW!"
SWAT Operator 2: "DROP THE FUCKING GUN NOW!"
SWAT Operator 3: "DROP THE WEAPON AND PUT YOUR HANDS UP!"
Suspect: [GUNSHOT]
SWAT Operators: [RETURNING GUNFIRE]
SWAT Operator 1: "DO NOT REACH, YOU WILL BE SHOT AGAIN!"
SWAT Operator 3: "STOP REACHING!"
SWAT Operator 1: [GUNSHOT]
SWAT Operator 2: "DO NOT MOVE!"
Bodycam Audio, 11:45 AM
The operators restrained the suspect before attempting medical aid on the suspect and trying to get a motive from the shooter. They failed. The suspect died on the scene due to a gunshot to the spleen. The motive still remains unknown, but the primary source of the motive is gone, leading the police to start a investigation on what inspired the shooter to commit such crimes.
Surprisingly, despite the fact the school buildings of Liberty County having signs of age, it was the first shooting targeting a school building that the county had experienced. Despite this, there was a moderate amount of hubris, as the no-hubris part was the school actually having a lockdown alarm just in case it occurs and the hubris part was that the protocol failed to account for a shooting in a passing period. Meanwhile, the SWAT awarded the SRD for his decision to be brave during the shooting, even if he could not save all that were shot.