Boy, 14, holds school hostage at gunpoint

State Police Lt Michael Baylous said in a statement that the male student had taken a pistol into a second-floor classroom Philip Barbour High School in Philippi, in the north-central part of the state.

Local authorities received a call about a report of someone with a gun about 1.30pm, and said the school was placed on a lockdown.

Students were evacuated when the school was placed on lockdown. Many students waited in the football field bleachers to be released by police

After initial negotiations, the suspect agreed to release the students and teacher, then eventually put the gun down and surrendered without further incident, Baylous said.

The suspect has been taken to a hospital for evaluation before being taken into custody by police.

Steve Saltis was among several anxious parents who went to the school and waited outside an area cordoned off by police tape while waiting for students to be released.

Saltis said by phone that his daughter attends the school and that 'a lot' was going through his mind while he waited for her to head home.

A school official speaks with parents of children from Philip Barbour High School after the school was evacuated and placed on lockdown.

A West Virginia State Police Officer speaks with parents of children from Philip Barbour High School on Tuesday.

Saltis said many students had been sitting in the school's football stadium after the school was evacuated and that he was able to talk to his daughter.

But Saltis said law enforcement officials told parents nothing while the suspect was still in the school.

Barbour County Prosecutor Leckta Poling wouldn't specify what charges would be brought against the male student.

She said no charges had been filed as of Tuesday night but that the county is pursuing charges.

Poling said that because the case involves a juvenile, the court process would be closed. Police haven't identified the student.

Classmates of the gunman took to Twitter to speak about their emotions surrounding Tuesday's incident.

Some students and Twitter users wrote about how thankful they were that the situation was not worse. Others questioned the boy's actions and the reasoning behind those defending him on social media.

State Police Capt Dave Reider says there will be an increased law enforcement presence at Philip Barbour High School on Wednesday. He said the school will be open but the start of classes will be delayed by two hours.

A statement was released by the state police thanking 'thank all involved law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and first responders', Daily Mail reports.

The statement continued: 'Additionally, the West Virginia State Police would like to thank all the parents of the schoolchildren for their patience, understanding, and cooperation.

'Their ability to keep calm in this situation made it much easier for officers to successfully perform their duties, which resulted in positive conclusion to an incident which easily could have developed into a tragedy.

'Finally, the West Virginia State Police would like to recognize the involved school personnel for having a clear, concise plan of evacuation for the school and executing it with perfection.'

Philippi is a town of 3,000 residents about 115 miles south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Classes began in Barbour County on August 13.