Ed Thomas, long-time football coach at Aplington-Parkersburg High School, was shot in the head at point-blank range and died this morning shortly after arriving at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Iowa.
According to sources, the shooting happened between 8 and 8:30 a.m. in the weight room of the school while players were working out in preparation for this fall’s season. About 50 students were present at the school, but none were injured.
The gunman was captured shortly after the shooting, and is being held in the Butler County jail in Iowa.
Thomas, the former NFL High School Coach of the Year, credited the community with the successful football program at the school. “Our students are a product of the enormous support of their parents and their community,” Thomas said. “Our young people grow up with a positive attitude and a tremendous work ethic. It’s contagious. Any time we have people break through and go to Iowa and Iowa State and other universities, the younger kids in town can see that you don’t have to be from the big school to have big-time opportunities.”
No further details of the murder are available at this time.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and the Aplington-Parkersburg community.