RICHMOND, Indiana — School security cameras inside Dennis Intermediate School helped Principal Nicole VanDervort lead law enforcement to an armed teen, who ultimately died as a result of an apparent suicide inside the school.
14-year-old Brandon Clegg took his own life after a shootout with police at the intermediate school on Dec. 13.
For the first time, 911 recordings have been released following a public records request by News Center 7.
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Five calls related to the incident were received by Wayne County dispatchers, one from VanDervort, who was watching Clegg on security cameras inside the school building armed with a gun.
Meanwhile, dispatchers were also receiving several 911 calls from staff members also reporting the incident
VanDervort first told dispatchers Clegg was in the area of Room 102, before he moved to a stairway.
"South stairway I see a student with a gun,” VanDervort told 911 dispatchers. "He's pointing the gun at the door right now."
During the nearly 12 minute call, VanDervort remains calm as she tells dispatchers specific details about what she is seeing on the surveillance cameras.
"He's getting ready to go down the stairway by an officer,” she said. "I can see him looking at the officers right now."
The principal then says it appears Clegg hunkers down in the stairwell.
VanDervort said she also saw Clegg throw something down the stairs, possibly a smoke bomb.
A short time later, dispatchers alert VanDervort of a critical update as law enforcement searched for the teen.
"The officers know where he is. They have him isolated. We're going to try and de-escalate the situation,” the female dispatcher said. “You just keep telling me what you see, because you see him better than anyone else right now."
Shortly after police isolate Clegg, the dispatcher alerts the principal that Clegg has died and asks the principal to keep the lockdown in place until police speak with her.
The call ends with the dispatcher thanking the principal for her help.
"You're doing so good,” the dispatcher told "Thank you so much for all that you were able to do."
