UPDATE SATURDAY @ 9:43 PM
WSAZ Just talked to Stephanie Loop. She is home from the hospital and says she is feeling a little bit better.

UPDATE SATURDAY @ 4:30PM
The hospital is no longer releasing Christi Layne's condition. We do know that Friday she was recovering after surgery. Stephanie Loop's family tells NewsChannel 3 her injuries are not life-threatening.

UPDATE FRIDAY @ 9:30 PM
While police are still sorting out just what happened in the Portsmouth standoff Thursday, two assault victims continue to recover in two hospitals.

The police chief told WSAZ at about noon Friday that stabbing victim Stephanie Loop was in critical but stable condition at a Columbus hospital -- and family members of Note Dame Elementary teacher Christi Layne say the 53 year old is out of surgery and her many injuries are not life threatening.

Christi Layne's brother-in-law, David Piatt, told WSAZ that Christi was stabbed by estranged husband Mike Layne 14 times in front of her fifth grade class.

Piatt said Christi was also shot at in the classroom three times and hit once with a wound to her cheek.

Court records show Christi Layne, in the process of a divorce, feared for her life when she took out a domestic protective order against he husband the day after Christmas he says when Mike Layne entered the classroom, Christi thought at first, he was just there to argue, but then she tried to protect herself second and her students first.

Police said the Laynes and Stephanie Loop were involved in some sort of love and hate triangle, but family and friends say a very troubled Mike Layne had lost touch with reality.

We also learned today that Mike Lane had troubles with pills and depression.

UPDATE FRIDAY @ 11:50 AM
Portsmouth Police now say Michael Layne attacked his girlfriend, Stephanie Loop, then his estranged wife Christi Layne in front of her fifth grade class before returning to his home and taking his own life. Police say Michael Layne may have taken his own life, possibly as early as 9:30 Thursday morning, after an exchange of gunfire with police at his house.

Police described Stephanie Loop as Michael Layne's "girlfriend". Loop is 22. Michael Layne was 56. Stephanie Loop is in critical but stable condition in a Columbus hospital, according to police.

A relative of Christi Layne tells WSAZ that Layne is recovering from her wounds and is in stable condition at a Huntington hospital. Layne was repeatedly stabbed then shot by her estranged husband.

UPDATE FRIDAY @ 9:44 AM
From the Associated Press:

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (AP) - They've canceled classes today at the school in southern Ohio where a teacher's estranged husband stabbed her in front of her fifth grade class yesterday.

Administrators at Notre Dame Elementary in Portsmouth say they'll have counselors on hand for the students when the school reopens next week. None of the children were hurt.

The teacher's lawyer tells The Columbus Dispatch that Christi Layne is doing fine after surgery.

Police say her husband William Michael Lane was the attacker. He was found dead hours later when officers entered his home.

Investigators also believe the stabbing of another woman in Portsmouth yesterday is connected.

Last night, an overflow crowd jammed a local Catholic Church for a prayer service.

Portsmouth Police tell WSAZ that Michael Layne stabbed his estranged wife, Christi Layne, inside a classroom at the school while students were in the room. No students were injured in the incident. The Ohio Associated Press is reporting that police are still investigating whether or not Mrs. Layne was shot during the scuffle. Police say there was a shot fired, but they are not sure at this point if it struck Mrs. Layne.

Christi is reported to be in critical condition at Cabell-Huntington Hospital in Huntington, WV.

Police surrounded a house on Argonne Road in Portsmouth where the Layne barricaded himself inside. Officers were able to communicate with him early in the standoff situation, but found him dead inside the house at about 1:30pm.

Police say Layne shot and killed himself.

A stabbing victim from an earlier incident in Portsmouth is in a Columbus hospital in critical condition. Police believe the two incidents may be related.

Thursday night, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland issued the following statement.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic events that took place today in Portsmouth. My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this terrible incident,” Ohio Governor Ted Strickland said. “I want to thank members of local law enforcement, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and all other emergency personnel for their hard work in responding to this very difficult situation.”

Details from 3pm Press Conference
Police say they heard gunshots when they got on the scene on Argonne Road. They tried to negotiate with the suspect for an hour and a half, they figured out the suspect was dead. They say he shot himself.

Police say the suspect is legally known as William Michael Layne, commonly known as Mike Layne. He was 46 years old. Police say they had a domestic situation at this home about two weeks ago.

Police say the first victim -- from the stabbing -- is Stephanie Loop. The second victim is Christie Layne. She is the teacher at Notre Dame Elementary School. Police say both are critical but stable condition.

Police say the relationship between Stephanie Loop and the Laynes is undetermined.

Police say Mike Layne was on disability from his job with the city of Portsmouth.

Update at 2:34pm
Portsmouth's Mayor has issued a statement. Click on the link above to read it (Adobe Acrobat required).

Update at 2:12pm
Paperwork filed in Scioto County court confirms that Christi Layne filed for divorce from Michael Layne on January 25th -- less than two weeks ago. Three days later, a mutual restraining order was issued.

Update at 1:48pm
Police now confirm that the suspect, Michael Layne, has been found dead. They say he died from a self-inflicted wound.

One of the victims, a teacher and wife of the suspect, is Christi Layne. She is in critical condition at Cabell-Huntington Hospital.

A stabbing victim from an earlier incident in Portsmouth is in a Columbus hospital in critical condition. Police believe the two incidents may be related.

Update at 1:07
WSAZ's Randy Yohe reports that the suspect is still alive and police are speaking with him. Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner tells us that police have established phone communication with the suspect and are trying to negotiate. Horner says professional negotiators are talking with the man.

Horner also confirms the two victims are in critical condition.

Yohe estimates that there are at least 100 officers on the scene.
two victims are in critical condition.

Update with police press conference
Police say there is a current barricaded situation on Argonne Drive with numerous law enforcement officials. They have requested additional help from the state.

Police confirm that the man in the home on Argonne Drive is responsible for both incidents that took place in Portsmouth this morning.

Police are not releasing the names of the suspect or victims at this time.

The suspect had a previous domestic violence charge against him and there was a restraining order in effect between the suspect and one of the victims.

A school spokesperson says the school immediately went into lockdown. Police say the lockdown lasted about two hours.

There will be a prayer Service tonight at St. Mary's at 7pm. There is no school tomorrow for Notre Dame Elementary, but counseling will be available tomorrow.

Update at 11:52
WSAZ has now confirmed the first incident. It was a stabbing on 11th street. The victim was a woman and she has been life-flighted to the hospital. We do not know the relation to this first incident on the record, but police tell us they believe it is connected. The second incident -- the shooting at the school --- happened a short time after this stabbing, according to police.

Update 11:44
WSAZ has confirmed the teacher is in the emergency room at Cabell Huntington Hospital and listed in critical condition.

Update at 11:35
WSAZ's Randy Yohe reports that two new SWAT teams have just shown up at the home on Argonne Road. The police chief in Portsmouth tells Randy that this is still a volatile situation. Randy also says more ambulances have also shown up at the scene with one pulling close to the home.

Police tell us that they will release information about these incidents at another location away from the scene. We will bring this information as we get it.

Portsmouth police are not giving out information at this point on the first incident. WSAZ is trying to confirm information about the other incident -- not the one at the school. Understandably, police are all tied up with the situation on Argonne Road at this point.

Update at 11:09
Portsmouth City Schools are no longer in lockdown.

Update
From the Associated Press --
Police say a teacher has been shot by her husband at a school in the southern Ohio city of Portsmouth.

Authorities say no children were hurt at Notre Dame Elementary,
which has about 150 students.

Police say the man left the building and that they're in the
process of arresting him. They're not giving further details.

The woman's condition isn't known.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus says the school and
another Catholic school in Portsmouth were locked down for a time.

The office manager of a Methodist church across the street from
the Notre Dame school says she watched as parents began taking
their children home around 10:30.

Update
Randy Yohe just spoke with a state highway patrolman who was on the scene at the school. He says to Randy that the teacher was shot AND stabbed in her classroom at the elementary school.

===

Police in Portsmouth, Ohio, tell WSAZ a female teacher has been shot on the steps of an elementary school.

It happened at Notre Dame Elementary in Portsmouth, Ohio.
We're being told that police believe the teacher and the shooter had a domestic relationship.

Police confirm there are two shootings inside the city and police believe they may be related. The situation has now moved to an area of Argonne Road.

PARENTS NEED TO GO TO HOLY REDEEMER ELEMENTARY'S ACITIVITIES CENTER TO PICK UP THEIR CHILDREN. It is right next to the Notre Dame Elementary School.

WSAZ's Carrie Cline reports that most students are now picked up and most were unaware of anything happening at the school until they got briefed after the incident. No students were injured during this situation.

Witnesses tell us that streets around the school are being closed.

WSAZ's Randy Yohe is on the scene on Argonne Road where he says police have barricaded a man inside a home. They believe he has several weapons with him. The mayor of Portsmouth Jim Kalb tells us that they are waiting for a SWAT team to arrive.

A student reporter from Shawnee State tells us that there are police representatives from New Boston Police, Scioto County Sheriff's Department, State Highway Patrol and the Portsmouth Police are on the scene on Argonn Road. There is a two block area sealed off around Argonne Road, according to the Shawnee State reporter.

Stay with WSAZ.com for more information.

**** If you have pictures or video of the school or shooting scene, please e-mail them to pix@wsaz.com. DO NOT put your own safety in jeopardy to get pictures for us.