A 14-year old teen was apprehended after shooting a teacher and two students in the playground of a South Carolina elementary school on Wednesday, September 28. In addition to the Townville Elementary School shooting, officials from the Anderson County Sheriff's Office are also investigating the probability that a murder earlier reported across town on Osborne Road, was carried out by the suspect, as the victim has been identified as 47-year-old Jeffrey Dewitt Osborne, the father of the suspect.
According to reports, the incident occurred shortly after 1 p.m., when the suspect is said to have driven up and crashed into the fence surrounding the school's playground. Witnesses say that that is when the suspect got out with a handgun and opened fire, starting on a shooting spree that came to an end when veteran firefighter Jamie Brock took the suspect down upon arriving at the scene. One male student was shot in the foot and another male student at the school was shot in the leg. They were both rushed to the hospital along with the teacher, a female, who was shot in the shoulder.
Authorities confirm that the entirety of the incident took place outside of the school, and that practices designated from active shooter training helped minimize the potential of violence. Jamie Meredith, who is the parent of one of the students at the school conveyed the experience as it was explained to her by her daughter, saying, “She said they went in the bathroom. I don't know how they knew to go in the bathroom, but I know her teacher was shaken up. I know all the kids were scared. There was a bunch of kids crying. She didn't talk for about five minutes when I got her." Classes at Townville Elementary has since been canceled for the remainder of the week, and school personnel are preparing to provide counseling services, effective for when students return.
Investigators have ruled out any relationship between the suspect and students and staff at the school, as he is confirmed to be a home schooled student.
Source: wyff4.com
