A South Carolina high school student died Wednesday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the parking lot, according to WSPA.
Ware Shoals High School, located near Greenville, was placed on lockdown abruptly after the shooting at 8 a.m.
According to the school district, the student was taken to a nearby hospital. Ware Shoals Police Chief Bryan Louis announced the student’s death around noon.
Louis said the student was in a car along with another student when a school resource officer came up to the vehicle because they were running late to school.
As the student was exiting the car, a school safety coordinator confiscated a Juul. The school safety coordinator then spotted a pistol in the student’s waistband.
The student walked backward and shot himself in the head with a small-caliber semi-automatic handgun, the chief said.
The Ware Shoals School District issued the following statement:
“Our school district is shocked and deeply saddened by this tragic situation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family in this time of sadness.
We appreciate our students and staff remaining strong during this time. School counselors will be available throughout the day and tomorrow to speak with our students and staff. While this is a difficult time for our schools and district, our focus will continue to be ensuring that our students and staff feel safe and supported during this time.
Thank you to our law enforcement, our school administrators, counselors, ministers, and community their swift response to this situation. We appreciate their readiness and willingness to support us at a moment’s notice.”
