PHILLIPS COUNTY —A man is in custody after allegedly firing a gun near the middle school in Phillipsburg.
Just before 8a.m. Thursday, the Phillips County Sheriff's Office received a call that there was an individual shooting a gun south of the middle school in Phillipsburg, according to a social media report from the sheriff.
A deputy who was patrolling school zones in Phillipsburg arrived shortly. The Deputy began shouting orders and then the individual dropped both weapons and laid them on the ground. The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Morgan William Thieben, who lives in the 500 block of 7th street in an apartment.
From eyewitness statements it has been concluded that he fired two shots into the air with a 9mm Pistol, but also had an AR Rifle on his person as well, according to the sheriff's office.
Thieben was then taken into custody on requested charges of Criminal Threat, Aggravated Assault and Unlawful Discharge of a firearm within city limits.
He had one full magazine for the pistol and the rifle magazine and chamber were empty. A search warrant was done on the suspect’s apartment. During the search only a single 9mm round was found in the apartment. There was no evidence leading to a motive or agenda.
Thieben is currently incarcerated in the Phillips County Jail where he is being mentally screened. There were multiple people in the area who helped get the kids to safety at the nearby school and others who attempted to control the situation.
Sheriff Kyle Pinkerton said, “We should all be proud of how our community reacted, it was quick, and everyone prioritized the safety of our children, and also to the Deputies that responded and ran directly to the threat and ended it."
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PHILLIPS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating gunfire near the middle school in Phillipsburg.
Just before 8a.m. Thursday, sheriff's deputies responded to a report of shots fired in the 500 block of 7th street, according to a social media report from the Phillips County Sheriff's office.
The shots fired were not believed to be directed at the nearby school, according to the sheriff's office. Phillipsburg Middle School is located at 647 7th Street.
The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Morgan William Thieben, according to online jail records is in custody. He is being held on requested charges of aggravated assault, criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal threat; cause terror, evacuation or disruption. There were no injuries reported.