ESSEX, Vt. (AP) - A gunman shot five people Thursday, killing two of them, in a rampage through two houses and a school that ended when he wounded himself, police said. One of the slayings occurred at the school, but police Chief David Demag said he could not confirm earlier reports that the victim was a teacher preparing for the start of school next week.
"At this point the scenes are secured and the community is safe," Demag said about two hours after the first reports of a shooting. "We have a suspect in custody. The suspect has identified himself as the only shooter. He is secure."
Demag said the shooter and the other three wounded people were taken to a hospital, but their conditions were not immediately known. The chief said he could not provide the shooter's identity, or a motive other than that the shootings appeared to stem from a domestic dispute.
Demag said one person was killed in the first shooting, which occurred at a home. The shooter then went to the Essex Elementary School, where he fatally shot one person and wounded two others, Demag said.
School was not in session; classes were scheduled to start next week.
The shooter then went to a second home where he wounded a person before turning the gun on himself, the chief said.
Essex is in northern Vermont, near Burlington.
