Kentucky school shooting: Two teenagers dead and 17 injured

Two people have been killed and 17 injured in a high school shooting in the US state of Kentucky.

A 15-year-old girl died at the scene at Marshall County High School in the town of Benton and a 15-year-old boy died in hospital, said Kentucky's governor.

The attacker, a 15-year-old male student, was arrested in "a non-violent apprehension", officials said.

State police said the unidentified boy was held about 15 minutes after opening fire at 08:00 local time on Tuesday.

The lone attacker opened fire with a handgun apparently at random in a common area before classes started, according to local media.

He will be charged with murder and attempted murder, said officials. The FBI was assisting in the investigation.

Police named the two students who died as Bailey Holt, pronounced dead at the school, and Preston Cope, who succumbed to his injuries in hospital.

Fourteen students were hit by gunfire, including the two who died.

Another five students suffered non-gunshot injuries while trying to escape the gunfire.

The attack shocked the small farming town of 4,500 people, situated about 130 miles (210km) north-west of Nashville, Tennessee.

It is at least the second gun attack in an American high school in as many days.

Source: bbc