Students saw shooting at S.C. high school
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A student shot Friday morning in a crowded high school cafeteria here inadvertently shot himself, school district officials confirmed.
The incident occurred before school started at Southside High School, said senior Claudio Davila-Gonzalez, 18. He was seated a few feet from the victim when he heard the shot.
The victim was taken to the school nurse initially, then transported by ambulance, he said.
The incident has been confirmed as an accidental shooting, and the victim was in possession of the gun, according to Greenville County Schools' spokeswoman, Elizabeth Brotherton.
After the gunshot, "everybody started freaking out," Davila-Gonzalez said. "We thought it was like they were playing around, but then he started bleeding for real.
"One guy got up and then the other guy got up, and he was holding his stomach," said Davila-Gonzalez, who was about 7 feet away at an adjacent table. "I think he was bleeding so the other guy helped him out."
Authorities are not searching for additional suspects. At 9:55 a.m. ET school district officials said students would return to class shortly, but they are working on a plan for parents to pick up their children from the 800-student school.
"My daughter is scared," said Kadejdra Klugh, who was in a line of cars waiting to get to the school. "Why are they holding my kids hostage? They are scared, and they need their mother."
Kitina Jamison said her son called her and said someone is shooting in the school.
"Worst thing a parent wants to hear," Jamison said.
Both Southside High and Thomas E. Kerns Elementary were on lockdown following the incident.
No permanent metal detectors are in place at Greenville County schools, but portable ones can be brought in if necessary, Brotherton said. All of the schools have school resource officers.
The school was awarded the 2015 Greenville County Schools High School Safety Award that focuses on prevention of employee and student injuries, according to the Greenville schools’ website. Southside also is home to the district’s International Baccalaureate program.
Contributing: Anna Lee and Nathaniel Cary, Greenville (S.C.) News. Follow Lauren Petracca and Rick Brundrett on Twitter: @LaurenPetracca and @RickBrundrett