(Credit: Leander Independent School District)
The Cedar Park Police Department has identified the victim of a Saturday night shooting as 41-year-old Adam Shane Ladner, a coach and PE teacher at Running Brushy Middle School in the Leander Independent School District.
According to police, Ladner became involved in an altercation with his neighbor over a noise complaint. That neighbor, Larry Wayne Smith, allegedly shot Ladner to death. He has since been charged with murder.
District officials say grief counselors will be on campus this week.
The school has released a statement:
The Running Brushy Middle School and Leander ISD family is saddened to learn of the unexpected death of a faculty member, Adam Ladner. His passing has affected students and staff members deeply. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Within Running Brushy and Leander ISD, we have the district Crisis Team, who are trained to deal with grief counseling, available to students and staff members. This intervention has been implemented to respond to this tragic event and to help our students and their families get back to regular learning and everyday activities as soon as possible. This plan has evolved from the district’s experience with death in the past and the advice of mental health professionals from the community.
We expect everyone will react in different ways to the death of one of our school community members. We understand there will be a variety of emotions and responses to Coach Ladner’s passing. The most important things we can do are offer support and encourage an open expression of feelings.
If your child has questions or needs help, please have them see a Crisis Team member at RBMS this week. We will try to maintain as normal a routine and structure as the situation allows, and we encourage you to do the same.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact the school at 512-570-3300. We know you join us in our concern and sympathy for the Running Brushy family.
