16-year-old church member wounded in Kentucky high school mass shooting

Two teens are dead, at least 17 others injured after a mass shooting at a Kentucky high school.

The shooting happened early Tuesday morning at Marshall County High School in Benton, Ky.

Related: Kentucky church member escapes school shooting — but not the trauma

Among the injured, a 16-year-old member of the Benton Church of Christ in Kentucky. The congregation’s minister, Mark Ray, identified the injured member as Mason Cosner and requested prayers for him.

Another church member, Pamela Ross, said on Twitter that Mason Cosner was being airlifted to a Nashville, Tenn., hospital for surgery.

Mason’s twin brother, Christian Cosner, was trampled as students rushed to escape the shooting. He’s being treated at a local hospital.

“His ribs were bruised, and he is pretty traumatized,” Ray said.

Kentucky State Police have confirmed that the suspected shooter, a 15-year-old student, was taken into custody.

Late Tuesday, police released the names of the two students who were killed. According to police, Bailey Holt, 15, was pronounced dead at the scene. Preston Cope, 15, was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time after the shooting.

We do know several students at the high school are members of area youth groups. Paula Harrington, a member of Lone Oak Church of Christ in Paducah, Ky., has a daughter who is a student at the high school. Harrington shared her feelings knowing her daughter was in the school on Twitter. Harrington’s daughter was not injured.

Kentucky State Police and the FBI are still investigating. At this time they have not released any details regarding a possible motive in the shooting.

Filed under: National News School shooting Top Stories