The prom gunman: Jilted ex-student arrives outside his school dance with a rifle and opened fire on couple before being killed by cops

A teenage gunman was shot dead by police officers after he opened fire with a high-powered rifle outside a high school prom, injuring a couple of students, authorities said.

Jackob E. Wagner, 18, arrived at Antigo High School in Antigo, Wisconsin, at around 11pm on Saturday night and started firing at the pair, a male and a female, at the school's entrance as they left the building.

Antigo Police Chief Eric Roller said several police officers were at the scene providing security for the event and quickly stopped the threat by shooting the suspect.

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Jackob E. Wagner (pictured) arrived at Antigo High School in Wisconsin around 11pm on Saturday night and opened fire on two students before he was shot dead by police

The injured students, who were both shot in the leg, and Wagner were taken to hospital, where the female was treated for a gunshot wound and later released.

The male student was undergoing surgery for injuries that weren't life-threatening.

Langlade County Coroner Larry Shadick said Wagner died shortly after 1am on Sunday morning in the intensive care unit at a Wausau hospital. 

School officials do not think Wagner targeted his victims, but believe that he had been planning to enter the prom and start shooting randomly.

Interim district administrator Donald Childs said Wagner did not graduate with his class from Antigo High School last year and was continuing to work on his diploma. 

But a friend of an 18-year-old described him as a 'good kid' who loved video games, hanging out with friends and music.

Wagner (left) died in hospital after being shot by police at the scene. He recently posted a picture of this Airsoft rifle on his Instagram page 

Dakotta Mills said he had known Wagner since sixth grade and considered him a foster brother. He says Wagner was raised by his mother and grandparents.

Mills says Wagner was interested in guns and wanted to become a hunter, and had gone through a hunter safety course a few years ago. But he wasn't sure Wagner could afford a gun.

Dylan Dewey said Wagner had been dating a girl at the school but that she had broken up with him last month.

Dewey described Wagner as an 'all-around good guy' and said he generally seemed happy.

But on Saturday evening, Wagner arrived at the school armed with the rifle and shot two students in the leg before he was gunned down by the officer. 

'Two students who were attending prom festivities were shot as they exited the building,' Roller said.

'City of Antigo officers who were patrolling the parking area heard shots fired, and one of those officers was able to fire upon the shooter stopping the threat to additional attendees.'

He added: 'The officer's immediate response prevented further injuries and possible casualties.'

The officer in question has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol, as the Division of Criminal Investigates whether the use of force was justified, WSAW reports. 

Police put the prom on lockdown until a search of the area could be completed – and later everyone at the dance was escorted from the school and was safe.

Antigo Police Chief Eric Roller said several police officers were at the scene providing security for the event and quickly stopped the threat

Wagner died shortly after 1am Sunday morning in the intensive care unit at a Wausau hospital 

After an initial investigation, police believe Wagner was the lone shooter and officers are conducting a search of his home seeking information, Roller said.  

Sonia Reed, whose son Matthew attended the prom, said that she had been on the school's campus earlier on Saturday evening for a pre-prom procession.

She estimated that there were more than 100 students at the prom. 

'I didn't see anything suspicious,' she told WSAW. 'I didn't feel any bad vibes. It seemed like it was going to be a normal prom.

She found out about the shooting when another mother called her to tell her that police were at the school and had a person 'down'.

The Unified School District of Antigo said Wagner had approached the school with a high-powered rifle and a large ammunition clip. 

In a statement, the district said in a statement that 'quick actions' taken by police and district staff to secure the building 'prevented what might have otherwise been a disaster of unimaginable proportions, and we are extremely grateful for their well-rehearsed response.' 

Police already were stationed to patrol the parking lot at the high school dance in Antigo, a community of about 8,000 people about 150 miles north of Milwaukee.  

The school plans to have counselors available when classes resume Monday.

Wagner's relationship to the victims and the motive for the attack is not known, Police Chief Eric Roller said