GREENVILLE, S.C. – A South Carolina middle school student was fatally shot Thursday by another 12-year-old student, authorities said.
The victim was identified by his family as 12-year-old Jamari Cortez Bonaparte Jackson, WYFF-TV reported. Community activist Bruce Wilson released a statement from the family, saying, “We are all devastated by today’s tragedy. We love Jamari dearly.”
The shooting occurred inside Tanglewood Middle School in Greenville at around 12:30 p.m. EDT, The State reported. A suspect, also a male student at the middle school, was taken into custody after running away and hiding near the school building, the newspaper reported.
Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis said in a Facebook post that the suspect shot Jackson at least one time.
“He was hiding. He’s a young man, probably didn’t understand the consequences of what had just happened,” Lewis said during a news conference. “I don’t think he knew what to do, honestly, except for to leave the school.”
Lewis said the boy was 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.
The motive for the shooting and how the boy was able to obtain a weapon are still under investigation, Lewis said. The sheriff added that the victim and suspect were familiar with each other.
“My heart breaks for this young boy’s family and my prayers are with them tonight. Additionally, I will be praying for the other young boy who pulled the trigger and his family,” Lewis said in a statement posted to Facebook. “I cannot fathom what would cause someone to do this to another human being and especially at that age, but I know it’s a situation where we all need to turn to God.”
Nobody else was injured, according to The State.
“I’m not sure after a full and thorough law enforcement investigation anyone will really know what was going through the mind of that young person who took this rash act,” Greenville County Schools Superintendent Burke Royster told reporters.
