Officer shoots gunman at Illinois high school

A 19-year-old who showed up at his former high school in northern Illinois and opened fire on a police officer working there was shot by the officer and taken into custody, authorities said Wednesday.

The officer confronted the armed man at the Dixon High School near the school gym, where seniors were gathering for a graduation rehearsal, after he had opened fire in the school.

The gunman, a former student at the school, ran out of the building after the school resource officer approached him, and the officer gave chase.

During the chase, the suspect fired several rounds at the school resource officer. The officer then returned fired at the gunman, who suffered non-life threatening injuries, said Dixon Police Chief Steve Howell Jr.

The suspect is in custody and is receiving medical treatment. No students or staff were injured in the incident.

"I could not be more proud of the police officer and the way he responded to the situation," Howell said. "With shots ringing out through the hallways of the school, he charged toward the suspect and confronted him head on. Because of his heroic action, countless lives were saved."

The officer, who was not named, was put on paid administrative leave per city policy after an officer-involved shooting.

The city, about 90 miles west of Chicago and best known as the hometown of former president Ronald Regan, said all city schools were put on lockdown following the shooting.

The ATF said that agents from its Chicago and Rockford, Ill. offices were dispatched to Dixon to help with the investigation.