Tennessee teacher accused of shooting 2 principals at school was told job contract was ending

Accused Tenn. teacher told his job contract ending

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A Tennessee elementary school teacher was told his contract was not being renewed the same day he was accused of shooting and wounding the principal and assistant principal.

Knox County school officials also say they investigated allegations that Mark Stephen Foster was mentally unstable in the months before Wednesday’s shooting, but decided he was not an imminent threat.

Superintendent James McIntyre Jr. says Principal Elisa Luna made the decision not to renew Foster’s contract and he didn’t know what prompted it.

Police say Luna and Assistant Principal Amy Brace were shot multiple times about an hour after classes were dismissed early for snow.

Luna was in critical condition Thursday morning and Brace was in stable condition Wednesday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee elementary school teacher accused of shooting and wounding the principal and assistant principal at his school is being held on a $1 million bond.

Forty-eight-year-old Mark Stephen Foster is charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a gun on school property.

He’s accused of shooting the administrators at Inskip Elementary School in Knoxville on Wednesday, soon after the children were dismissed because of snow.

Hospital officials say Principal Elisa Luna remains in critical condition. Assistant Principal Amy Brace was in stable condition Wednesday night.

Police have not discussed a motive. His brother and a former employer say Foster had shown threatening behavior before.