The community is mourning the deaths of two 15-year-old Marshall County High School students and continuing with prayers for recovery for the remaining 18 who have been injured, three still in critical condition at Vanderbilt Medical Center.
Bailey Holt and Preston Cope are being remembered by friends and family as precious kids who were always positive and the kind of kids who would never say or do anything to hurt anyone.
Prayer vigils were held at numerous churches around the county last night and this morning many west Kentucky schools held prayers circles in support of Marshall County students. Basketball teams from around the area wore orange and blue colors to show support at many games last night as well as a statement from Kentucky Coach John Calipari, just a few of the ways Kentucky and many throughout the country have expressed their support.
A counseling center is open at the old Pepsi Bottling Plant at 1531 Highway 641 North, Benton, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. beginning today. A family resource center has been set up at the Kentucky Agriculture Extension Office at 1533 Mayfield Highway, Benton.
Marshall County Schools are closed today and the following statement was issued last night by superintendent Trent Lovett.
This is Trent Lovett, superintendent of Marshall County Schools. A tragedy beyond words occurred in our community today. I know that, as parents, our greatest fear is something happening to our children, and today that fear became a reality. Our courageous faculty and staff at all levels were outstanding in their response to today’s tragedy. We appreciate the quick action of our dedicated first responders. I ask you all as a community to wrap your arms around these families and around these students, as you always have. We deeply appreciate the outpouring of support that we have received from colleagues and communities across the state and the nation. Our children are our future, our greatest gift, and our foremost priority. Hold your children close tonight as you gather together at vigils, churches, and homes and please bear with us as we struggle to return to some sense of normalcy. Together with the community we will begin the long healing process within our schools. God be with us all.