Shooting at Nevada middle school, suspect dead

(UPI) -- Police in Sparks, Nev., responded to reports of a shooting Monday morning, and the suspect was believed to have killed himself.

Two people, including the shooter, were dead, authorities said, and two male minors were shot as classes were starting. Both were transported to Renown Regional Hospital in critical condition, said hospital spokeswoman Angela Rambo.

Student eyewitness accounts identified the shooter as a fellow student and the victim one as a popular math teacher.

"We were at the basketball court and we heard a pop, like a loud pop, and everybody was screaming and the teacher came to investigate," said Kyle Nucum, 13. "I thought it was a firecracker at first. But the student was pointing a gun at the teacher after the teacher told him to put it down, and the student fired a shot and the teacher fell and everybody ran away."

Officials did not identifying details about either the deceased victim or the shooter.

Students were evacuated from Sparks Middle School to Agnes Risley Elementary School and transported to Sparks High School where parents were instructed to pick up their children, said police spokesman Rocky Triplett.

"We believe the suspect has been neutralized," the Sparks Police Department website said, shortly after 8 a.m.

The shooter reportedly died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Sparks City Manager Shawn Carey said.