Coach Killed In School Shooting

Kellie Fobian, of Parkersburg, Iowa, places flowers at a memorial for Aplington-Parkersburg head football coach Ed Thomas Thursday, June 25, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. Mark Becker, a 24-year-old former football player, walked into the school's weight room Wednesday morning and fatally shot his former coach Ed Thomas, before sheriff's deputies arrested him at a nearby home a short time later, authorities said.

Rick Patten looks at a memorial for Aplington-Parkersburg head football coach Ed Thomas Thursday, June 25, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. A gunman shot and killed Thomas in the school's weight room early Wednesday morning.

High school students react during a vigil for Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. Mark Becker, a 24-year-old former football player, walked into the school's weight room Wednesday morning and fatally shot his former coach Ed Thomas, before sheriff's deputies arrested him at a nearby home a short time later, authorities said.

Local residents react during a vigil for Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. A gunman shot Thomas in the school's weight room early Wednesday morning.

Local residents walk past a photo of Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas before a vigil Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. A gunman shot Thomas in the school's weight room early Wednesday morning.

An Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation vehicle sits in front of the Aplington-Parkersburg High School weight room building, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. Authorities said Mark Becker, a 24-year-old former football player, walked into the school's weight room Wednesday morning and fatally shot his former coach Ed Thomas, before sheriff's deputies arrested him at a nearby home a short time later.

Investigators work at the scene of a shooting at Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg, Iowa, Wednesday, June 24, 2009. The family of prominent central Iowa high school football coach Ed Thomas said that he died at a Waterloo hospital after being shot in the school's weight room Wednesday morning.

Students and local residents gather outside the Aplington-Parkersburg Elementary School, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. Mark Becker, a 24-year-old former Aplington-Parkersburg High School football player, walked into the school's weight room Wednesday morning and fatally shot his former coach Ed Thomas, before sheriff's deputies arrested him at a nearby home a short time later, authorities said.

A sign stands over the Aplington-Parkersburg High School football field Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. Mark Becker, a 24-year-old former Aplington-Parkersburg High School football player, walked into the school's weight room Wednesday morning and fatally shot his former coach Ed Thomas, before sheriff's deputies arrested him at a nearby home a short time later, authorities said.

Students hug outside the Aplington-Parkersburg Elementary School, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. A gunman shot Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas in the school's weight room early Wednesday morning. Police later arrested Mark Becker, 24, and charged him with first-degree murder.

Aplington-Parkersburg school superintendent Jon Thompson speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. Mark Becker, a 24-year-old former Aplington-Parkersburg High School football player, walked into the school's weight room Wednesday morning and fatally shot his former coach Ed Thomas, before sheriff's deputies arrested him at a nearby home a short time later, authorities said.

Aaron Thomas speaks about his father Ed Thomas during a news conference Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. A gunman shot Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas in the school's weight room early Wednesday morning.

Aplington-Parkersburg High School guidance counselor Gary Flanigan reacts during a news conference, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. Mark Becker, a 24-year-old former football player, walked into the school's weight room Wednesday morning and fatally shot his former coach Ed Thomas, before sheriff's deputies arrested him at a nearby home a short time later, authorities said.

Local residents place flowers on the Aplington-Parkersburg High School football practice field, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. Mark Becker, a 24-year-old former Aplington-Parkersburg High School football player, walked into the school's weight room Wednesday morning and fatally shot his former coach Ed Thomas, before sheriff's deputies arrested him at a nearby home a short time later, authorities said.

Flowers lay in the grass near the Aplington-Parkersburg high school football field, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas was fatally shot in the school's weight room early Wednesday morning, allegedly by one of his former football players.

Students hug outside the Parkersburg Elementary School, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. Mark Becker, a 24-year-old former Aplington-Parkersburg High School football player, walked into the school's weight room Wednesday morning and fatally shot his former coach Ed Thomas, before sheriff's deputies arrested him at a nearby home a short time later, authorities said.

People react to the shooting of Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Parkersburg, Iowa. Mark Becker, a 24-year-old former Aplington-Parkersburg High School football player, walked into the school's weight room Wednesday morning and fatally shot his former coach Ed Thomas, before sheriff's deputies arrested him at a nearby home a short time later, authorities said.

Crowds gather at the Parkersburg Elementary School in Parkersburg, Iowa after hearing authorities say that Aplington-Parkersburg High School athletic director Ed Thomas was shot and killed in the Aplington-Parkersburg High School's weight room and a gunman was taken into custody shortly afterward on Wednesday, June, 24, 2009.

This Jan. 2009 photo provided by the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office shows Mark Becker. The 24-year-old former Aplington-Parkersburg High School football player walked into the school's weight room Wednesday morning, June 24, 2009 and fatally shot his former coach Ed Thomas, before sheriff's deputies arrested him at a nearby home a short time later, authorities said.