Springfield police remember Thurston High School shooting with free, public library event Springfield police officials invite people who want to remember or learn about the fatal Thurston High School shooting to attend a presentation this Saturday afternoon.
“Springfield Cops Behind the Scenes: the Thurston Shooting,” presented by Springfield Police Chief Jerry Smith, will provide insight into his and other officers’ personal experiences dealing with the 1998 shooting case that horrified the community and garnered national media attention.
The free event, part of Springfield Public Library’s fall adult programs, will recount student Kipland P. Kinkel’s shooting spree that killed one student and injured 23 others.
“(Smith) has a great way of explaining pretty traumatic events so that they aren’t so hard to take,” said Springfield spokesman Niel Laudati. “It was really dramatic for the community.”
He noted that the shooting still leaves community residents wondering what happened.
“There’s a lot of interest in it,” he said.
The presentation will be held at 1 p.m. in the Library Meeting Room at Springfield City Hall. For more information, contact Jenny Peterson at (541) 726-2234.
– Lindsay Funston