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Two students were killed Tuesday morning at Marshall County High School when a 15-year-old classmate opened fire. The boy will be charged with murder and attempted murder. (Jan. 23)

Media: Associated Press

BENTON, Ky. (AP) — The Latest on a fatal shooting at a Kentucky high school (all times local):

2:45 p.m.

President Donald Trump says he's spoken with Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin on Wednesday, a day after a deadly shooting at a high school there.

In a tweet, Trump says his thoughts and prayers are with the two slain students, their families and all others who were injured.

Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, both 15, were killed and another 18 people were injured when a classmate opened fire Tuesday morning at Marshall County High School in southwest Kentucky. A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in the shootings.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders says Trump has directed the Department of Justice to "make the recent crime wave a top priority."

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  • Students embrace following a prayer vigil at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, in Paducah, Ky. The gathering was held for the victims of the Marshall County High School shooting on Tuesday. (Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun via AP) Photo: Ryan Hermens, AP / The Paducah Sun
Photo: Ryan Hermens, AP
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Students embrace following a prayer vigil at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, in Paducah, Ky. The gathering was held for the victims of the Marshall County High School shooting on Tuesday. (Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun via AP) less
Students embrace following a prayer vigil at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, in Paducah, Ky. The gathering was held for the victims of the Marshall County High School ... more
Photo: Ryan Hermens, AP
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UPDATES TO REMOVE NUMBER OF PEOPLE INJURED - Police escort a person, second from right, out of the Marshall County High School after shooting there, Tuesday, Jan 23, 2018, in Benton, Ky. Gov. Matt Bevin said two people were killed numerous others were injured in the shooting. (Dominico Caporali via AP) less
UPDATES TO REMOVE NUMBER OF PEOPLE INJURED - Police escort a person, second from right, out of the Marshall County High School after shooting there, Tuesday, Jan 23, 2018, in Benton, Ky. Gov. Matt Bevin said ... more
Photo: Dominico Caporali, AP
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Students and community members hold hands in prayer before classes at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. The gathering was held for the victims of the Marshall County High School shooting on Tuesday. (Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun via AP) less
Students and community members hold hands in prayer before classes at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. The gathering was held for the victims of the Marshall County High ... more
Photo: Ryan Hermens, AP
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Alyssa Edging, center, a student at McCracken County High School, embraces Erica Johnson, left, and Abigail Hicks, both juniors at Marshall County High School in Benton, Ky., following a prayer vigil at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. The gathering was held to honor the victims of the Marshall County High School shooting on Tuesday. (Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun via AP) less
Alyssa Edging, center, a student at McCracken County High School, embraces Erica Johnson, left, and Abigail Hicks, both juniors at Marshall County High School in Benton, Ky., following a prayer vigil at Paducah ... more
Photo: Ryan Hermens, AP
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Students and community members hold hands in prayer before classes at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. The gathering was held for the victims of the Marshall County High School shooting on Tuesday. (Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun via AP) less
Students and community members hold hands in prayer before classes at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. The gathering was held for the victims of the Marshall County High ... more
Photo: Ryan Hermens, AP
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Students and community members hold hands in prayer before classes at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. The gathering was held for the victims of the Marshall County High School shooting on Tuesday. (Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun via AP) less
Students and community members hold hands in prayer before classes at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. The gathering was held for the victims of the Marshall County High ... more
Photo: Ryan Hermens, AP
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Students and community members hold hands in prayer before classes at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. The gathering was held for the victims of the Marshall County High School shooting on Tuesday. (Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun via AP) less
Students and community members hold hands in prayer before classes at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. The gathering was held for the victims of the Marshall County High ... more
Photo: Ryan Hermens, AP
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A sign at Briensburg Baptist Church asks people to pray for the victims of the shootings at Marshall County High School, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, near Benton, Ky. A prayer vigil was held at the church.
A sign at Briensburg Baptist Church asks people to pray for the victims of the shootings at Marshall County High School, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, near Benton, Ky. A prayer vigil was held at the church.
Photo: Stephen Lance Dennee, AP
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Patrick Adamson, youth director and praise leader at Briensburg Baptist Church, comforts two people prior to a prayer vigil at Briensburg Baptist Church near Benton, Ky., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, both 15, were killed and more than a dozen injured when a classmate opened fire Tuesday morning in the Marshall County High School atrium, a common area at the school where several hallways meet and students gather before classes. less
Patrick Adamson, youth director and praise leader at Briensburg Baptist Church, comforts two people prior to a prayer vigil at Briensburg Baptist Church near Benton, Ky., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. Bailey Nicole ... more
Photo: Stephen Lance Dennee, AP
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A woman wipes tears from her eye during a prayer vigil at Briensburg Baptist Church near Benton, Ky., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, both 15, were killed and another 17 people injured when a classmate opened fire Tuesday morning in the Marshall County High School atrium, a common area at the school where several hallways meet and students gather before classes. less
A woman wipes tears from her eye during a prayer vigil at Briensburg Baptist Church near Benton, Ky., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, both 15, were killed and another 17 people ... more
Photo: Stephen Lance Dennee, AP
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Mourners comfort one another prior to a prayer vigil at Briensburg Baptist Church near Benton, Ky., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, both 15, were killed and more than a dozen injured when a classmate opened fire Tuesday morning in the Marshall County High School atrium, a common area at the school where several hallways meet and students gather before classes. less
Mourners comfort one another prior to a prayer vigil at Briensburg Baptist Church near Benton, Ky., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, both 15, were killed and more than a dozen ... more
Photo: Stephen Lance Dennee, AP
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Marshall County High School students are escorted to retrieve their vehicles by emergency responders after a deadly shooting at the school in Benton, Ky., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. (Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun via AP) less
Marshall County High School students are escorted to retrieve their vehicles by emergency responders after a deadly shooting at the school in Benton, Ky., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. (Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun ... more
Photo: Ryan Hermens, AP
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An area of Marshall County High School is marked off with police tape after a deadly shooting at the school in Benton, Ky., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. (Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun via AP)
An area of Marshall County High School is marked off with police tape after a deadly shooting at the school in Benton, Ky., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. (Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun via AP)
Photo: Ryan Hermens, AP
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Stan Collins of Benton, second from left, holds a candle during a vigil at Impact Church in Benton, Ky., Tuesday Jan. 23, 2018. The vigil was held for victims of the Marshall County High School shooting earlier in the day. (Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun via AP) less
Stan Collins of Benton, second from left, holds a candle during a vigil at Impact Church in Benton, Ky., Tuesday Jan. 23, 2018. The vigil was held for victims of the Marshall County High School shooting earlier ... more
Photo: Ryan Hermens, AP
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1:30 p.m.

Prosecutors won't yet seek attempted murder charges against the 15-year-old suspect in a deadly shooting spree at a Kentucky high school and will charge him with first-degree assault for now.

Assistant Marshall County Attorney Jason Darnall told reporters Wednesday that the 15-year-old boy will face 12 counts of first-degree assault instead of attempted murder because they feel they have a better case for those charges right now. Darnall pointed out that the penalties for first-degree assault are the same as for attempted murder.

The teen will also face two counts of murder.

Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, both 15, were killed and another 18 people were injured when a classmate opened fire Tuesday morning at Marshall County High School in southwest Kentucky.

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11:25 a.m.

The mother of one of the students killed in the Kentucky school shooting says her daughter was a "perfect sweet soul."

Secret Holt told KFVS she appreciates "all the prayers" and support. She says the "horrific act of violence" at Marshall County High School that claimed her daughter's life is "just unbearable" for her family.

Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, both 15, were killed and another 18 people were injured when a classmate opened fire Tuesday morning in the school's atrium.

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8 a.m.

Officials in Kentucky say 18 people were injured and two were killed after a gunman opened fire in a Kentucky high school.

Detective Jody Cash, Kentucky State Patrol Public Affairs Officer, gave the updated figure in an email late Tuesday.

His update said a total of 16 people were wounded Tuesday by gunfire, two of them fatally, at Marshall County High School in rural western Kentucky. Another four had various injuries. Those injured or killed included 14 males and six females, ranging in age from 14 to 18.

Earlier, officials had said 17 people were injured and two were killed.

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Midnight

Witnesses describe students running silently for their lives as a gunman opened fire in a Kentucky high school.

Sixteen-year-old Alexandria Caporali says "no one screamed" during the Tuesday morning shooting at Marshall County High School in rural western Kentucky.

Some of the children ran into classrooms to hide from the boy with the gun. Some ran out of the building, into the fields, across the streets, through the doors of nearby businesses.

Parents desperately searched for their teenagers; business owners pulled fleeing youths to safety; a state trooper rushed to the school, terrified he would find his own daughter among the dead.

A 15-year-old male student has been arrested in the shooting, which killed two classmates. A dozen others suffered gunshot wounds, and five were injured in the scramble to get away.