The Dixon Elementary School was closed on Thursday, March 13, after a shooting occurred outside the Dixon Bar early that morning. The suspected shooter was apprehended that afternoon.

Robert J. Gardner, born in 2005, has since been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a weapon.

According to a report from Sanders County Sheriff Shawn Fielders, the incident was reported at 12:48 a.m. March 13. His department, CSKT Tribal Police and Lake County Sheriff’s deputies all responded and found two injured individuals at the scene.

One was flown to a hospital for treatment, and was in critical but stable condition at the time of the press release, and the second victim was transported to a medical facility via a personal vehicle with non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspected shooter had fled the scene and was taken into custody at 1 :30 p.m. Thursday in the Dixon area, with a tip from a community member.

The names of the two victims had not been released and the incident remains under investigation by the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office.

In his press release, the sheriff thanked Tribal Police, Lake County officers and the first responders for their help. “I especially want to thank the citizens,” he added. “If it wasn't for one phone call from an observant citizen it may have taken much longer to apprehend the suspect in this case.”