COLUMBIA, S.C. — A student died after being shot by another student at a Greenville County middle school Thursday afternoon, and a suspect is in custody, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis said the male suspect was hiding close to the school and was taken into custody without incident. He is believed to have been the only person involved. The Sheriff’s Office released a statement Thursday evening saying he was 12 years old.
As a juvenile, he was not identified.
“The victim was shot at least one time and was quickly tended to by the SRO and staff before being transported to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased,” the Sheriff’s Office said in the statement.
Lewis said the school resource officer at Tanglewood Middle requested emergency backup just before 12:30 p.m. after a student was shot. The gunshot victim was transported to the hospital, where he died. He was identified as 12-year-old Jamari Cortez Bonaparte Jackson..
His family released a statement Thursday, saying, “We are all devastated by today’s tragedy. We love Jamari dearly and we would ask that our privacy be respected as we grieve during this very difficult time.”
“Just before 1:30 p.m. the Sheriff’s Office learned the possible suspect was at a residence, located in the 3000 block of Easley Bridge Road and when deputies arrived, they located him hiding under a deck. The suspect was taken into custody and a handgun was recovered, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The suspect is being charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession of a firearm on school property and unlawful possession of a weapon by a person under the age of 18. He will be transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia.
“While the motive for the shooting and how the suspect was able to get possession of a firearm is still under investigation, we can confirm that the victim and suspect were familiar with each other and we are confident the incident was isolated,” the statement said.
Lewis said the school resource officer responded quickly, radioing to dispatch, “I need emergency assistance. I hear a gunshot.”
Lewis and Greenville County Schools Superintendent Burke Royster said the emergency plan worked flawlessly. The last drill was just a few months ago, Royster said.
All students, faculty and staff were taken by bus to Brookwood Church in Simpsonville to be reunited with their parents. Royster said the church is one a several sites the district has identified as emergency locations.
A WYFF-TV helicopter hovering over the campus around 1:30 p.m. showed a long line of school buses on the drive to the school, located southwest of the city of Grreenville.
The Sheriff’s Office said they had more than 100 deputies there plus law enforcement from other agencies.
Lewis said the school does not have metal detectors but does have other security, which he declined to name.
The school district expressed sadness at Jamari’s death.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his fellow students, the staff members at the school and everyone who knew this child,” he said. “This is an absolute tragedy and we will continue to do whatever we can to support his family and the Tanglewood community as they mourn the young life that was lost today.”
Royster said the district’s trauma team was at Brookwood and will continue to be available to students and staff.
Dr. Graysen Walles, principal of Tanglewood Middle School, said in a statement, “My heart goes out to the family of our student who passed away, and my prayers are with them. Our entire Tanglewood family is hurting with this news and from the events that took place today.”
Tanglewood has grades six through eight and about 800 students.
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