The name of the man shot and killed by law enforcement during a bizarre incident in Gadsden Thursday morning, has now been released.

The subject, Robert Tyler White, age 32 from Bunnlevel, North Carolina, was shot in a scuffle occurring at around 9:30am outside Walnut Park Elementary School, near the old Republic Steele plant; the coroner reportedly stated that the man had been living in the Gadsden area but a news release later issued by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said White was from North Carolina.  Gadsden City School Superintendent Tony Reddick said a total of 34 children were in the school at the time of the incident, as a Summer literacy Camp for elementary-age children was taking place.

Etowah County Sheriff Jonathan Horton said a resident called Attalla police reporting a suspicious man outside the school.  According to Reddick, the man was trying to get into vehicles and aggressively tried to open several doorways.  The school went into lockdown, following pre-planned protocol.  It’s unclear what touched off the incident.  A school resource officer on site quickly responded, spoke with the man – then called for backup.  When a second officer arrived, an altercation then ensued – ending with the suspect being fatally shot.  Officials haven’t said if the man was armed; a Rainbow City police officer suffered minor injuries in the scuffle and within minutes, dozens of officers from several different agencies were on the scene.

All children in the facility were safely picked up at Gadsden City High School within a period of less than 20 minutes after being taken from the school; the Superintendent said most of the children and instructors didn’t know what had happened when they were transported.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation is leading that probe, as this is an on-going investigation.

(AL.COM/www.al.com)