One year anniversary of school hostage situation in Marinette

Security is increased at a northern Wisconsin school on the anniversary of a student taking a classroom hostage before killing himself.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports two additional police officers were placed at Marinette High School for Tuesday’s anniversary. Marinette Police Chief Jeff Skorik says it’s due to traffic concerns and to give students and parents a sense of security.

A year ago 15-year-old freshman Sam Hengel held students and a teacher hostage at gunpoint for six hours before a SWAT team stormed in and Hengel shot himself in the head. School superintendent Tim Baneck says people are still healing.

He says teacher Valerie Burd, who was held during the standoff, still teaches at the school, and the room has been renovated and is being used for a different class.