Football coach fatally shot at Iowa high school

UPDATE June 25th

Family of Iowa suspect urges prayers after coach's killing
Story Highlights
Mark Becker accused of murder in death of longtime football coach Ed Thomas
Becker's family "wishes to express our deepest sympathy to the Thomas family"
Becker is a former football player, former student at coach's high school
"It's just too early to speculate" on motive for shooting, law enforcement official says


(CNN) -- The family of a man suspected of fatally shooting an Iowa football coach urged the community Thursday to pray for the victim's family.

Mark Becker, 24, faces first-degree murder charges in the death of Ed Thomas, 58, a longtime football coach at Aplington-Parkersburg High School.

Investigators believe Becker walked into the school's weight room, where Thomas was overseeing athletes' training Wednesday morning, and shot him several times as about 20 horrified students looked on. Thomas was flown to a hospital, where he later died.

"Our family wishes to express our deepest sympathy to the Thomas family," the Becker family said in a statement to CNN television affiliate KWWL.

The community has lost an icon, a leader and a teacher, the statement said.
go here for more


http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/06/25/coach.shooting/index.html

Football coach fatally shot at Iowa high school
Story Highlights
NEW: Coach Ed Thomas has died after being shot inside a school

He was flown to a hospital after the incident

An adult has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting

About 50 high school students present during the shooting; none were injured


(CNN) -- An Iowa high school football coach died Wednesday after he was shot inside the school as athletes were lifting weights, the district superintendent told CNN.


Ed Thomas had been with the school district for more than 30 years and was well-known in the region.

Ed Thomas died shortly after he arrived at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Iowa, according to a hospital statement.

He was flown to a hospital after he was shot about 8:30 a.m.at Aplington-Parkersburg High School, said Holly Fokkena, Butler County auditor.

No students were injured, although about 50 students were present at the time of the shooting, she said.

One person, an adult, was taken into custody, Fokkena said.

Superintendent Jon Thompson of the Aplington-Parkersburg Community Schools said crisis counselors were on scene to assist students who witnessed the shooting.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/06/24/football.coach.shot/index.html