Knife-Wielding Teenager Lunges At Classmate Before Being Shot By Police

A teenager was shot by police after he lunged at his classmates with a knife.

A fight broke out at Hug High School in Reno during which a 14-year-old pupil, who hasn't been named, pulled out a knife and began threatening other students, the Reno Gazette Journal reports.

The young student refused to drop his knife when asked by the school police officer, so he shot at him to 'stop the threat'. He is currently in hospital in a critical condition.

Reno police chief Jason Soto told local reporters last night: "Once the threat was stopped, the officer immediately began to provide medical aid to the student until emergency medical assistance arrived." The officer, who also hasn't been named, has been placed on administrative leave, which is routine for officers who have been involved in shootings.

The school was placed into lockdown at around 11.30am (local time) yesterday while the incident played out with pupils being told to stay inside, before finally being sent home at around 2.30pm.

Several of the students who witnessed the incident filmed it on their phones. Jiselle Mandugano, a 17-year-old student from Hug told the Reno Gazette Journal what happened after the boy pulled out the knife, 'the other kind tried to avoid it,' she said. 'I didn't see him get shot. I just saw him fall to the floor. I was so scared,' she added.

The teen was taken to hospital, where he is said to be in a critical condition. There were no other reported injuries.