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Bloomington Students Discover Dead Body On Field Trip

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (WCCO) -- A group of students from a Bloomington middle school wandered upon an unwelcome surprise while on a field trip Thursday afternoon.

A group of 125 students from Oak Grove Middle School in Bloomington were on a field trip at the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area in Eden Prairie when the group came upon the dead body of an adult male, according to police.

The group who actually discovered the body was about 30 eighth grade students and a supervising teacher. They were participating in an activity when they found the body of a man who had suffered a gunshot wound.

"The teacher removed the students from the area," said Rick Kaufman, the director of communications for Bloomington School District. "Called 911 and Eden Prairie Police responded and talked with the teacher and a number of students."

Police said they believe the man killed himself before the students were in the area, and the students were never in danger. Police also recovered a gun at the scene.

Grief counselors were at the school when the students returned, and their parents were also notified of the incident.

"It was very disturbing for the students we had the students return to the school and obviously canceled the field trip," said Kaufman. "We had our crisis response team of grief counselors ready for the students upon arrival. We brought students into the auditorium. Any student struggling with the incident we offered one-on-one counseling."

Kaufman said students on the field trip were texting their parents and sending messages on their phones after the incident. The school got in touch with parents leaving them messages and giving them accurate information.

The identity of the victim has not been released.

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