A 12-year-old student was shot and by a classmate inside their South Carolina middle school on Thursday afternoon, officials said.
The suspected shooter, also 12-years-old, was arrested and charged with murder and other firearm charges in the shooting, which took place at Tanglewood Middle School in Greenville, South Carolina. He was taken to a juvenile prison, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said in a .
Around 12.30pm Thursday, a school resource officer requested emergency backup after hearing several shots fired.
The victim, identified by his family as Jamari Cortez Bonaparte Jackson, was shot at least once, officials said.
The school resource officer quickly tended to Jamari, who was taken to an area hospital where he later died.
The suspected shooter ran from the school after the shooting and was found hiding under the deck of a nearby home.
‘He was hiding. He’s a young man, probably didn’t understand the consequences of what had just happened,’ Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis said during a news conference.
‘I don’t think he knew what to do, honestly, except for to leave the school.’
The boys knew each other, but the sheriff said investigators are still looking for clues as to what led to the fatal shooting.
‘We don’t really know the specifics of why it occurred and why so many young people resort to violence, especially with firearms,’ Lewis said.
The family of the 12-year-old victim asked for privacy as they grieve the loss of their young son.
‘We are all devastated by today’s tragedy. We love Jamari dearly,’ the family said in a statement released by community justice group Fighting Injustice Together.
The Greenville County Coroner is expected to release more information about the victim on Friday.
The suspect is charged with murder, possession of a firearm at a school and possession of a weapon by someone under 18. It’s still unclear how the suspect came into possession of a firearm.
‘My heart breaks for this young boy’s family and my prayers are with them tonight,’ the sheriff said in a statement. ‘Additionally, I will be praying for the other young boy who pulled the trigger and his family.’
The sheriff also urged parents to talk with their children and engage with them to ensure their own safety as well as others.
‘Check their belongings and ensure they don’t have anything that could be a danger to themselves or anyone else. It truly takes a village and we need everyone’s investment,’ Lewis said.
About 100 deputies were on the scene assessing the situation.
No other injuries were reported in the shooting, according to the sheriff’s office.
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