Boy, 15, ‘is shot dead by classmate’ at junior high school in Arkansas in ‘targeted attack’ on first full day of in-person learning
- Boy, 15, allegedly opened fire at Watson Chapel Junior High School in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, injuring another 15-year-old student,
- Victim was transported to Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, where he died on Monday afternoon
- Pine Bluff School District described shooting as ‘an isolated incident’
- All school campuses in district were placed on lockdown as a precaution
- Monday was supposed to the first full day of in-person instruction in Pine Bluff schools in several weeks because
A 15-year-old student was shot and killed and another was arrested following a shooting at a junior high school in Arkansas on Monday, which was supposed to be the first full day of in-person learning.
Pine Bluff Police Chief Kelvin Sergeant said at a press conference on Monday afternoon that a 911 call came in about shots fired at Watson Chaple Junior High School just before 10am.
Officers responded to the school three minutes later and found a 15-year-old student who had been shot inside the school.
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One student was shot and killed and another was taken into custody following a shooting at Watson Chapel Junior High School in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff Police Chief Kelvin Sergeant said at a press conference the shooting was targeted
The victim was taken in very serious condition to a local hospital, and from there he was later transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, where he died from his injuries on Monday afternoon.
The suspected shooter, who was described as a 15-year-old black male who is also a student at the school, was later found hiding behind a house off campus.
Sergeant said police dogs tracked and correctional officials tracked him to his hiding spot near the school. Witnesses reportedly followed the suspect out of the school and pointed police in the right direction, according to KATV.
He was transported to a juvenile detention facility pending the filing of formal charges.
Sheriff’s deputies are on the scene at the junior high school investigating the shooting
‘We believe it was a targeted incident as opposed to a random incident,’ the police chief said after noting that they do not have a specific motive yet.
Prosecutors will decide whether to charge the suspected shooter as a juvenile or an adult within the next 48 hours.
The Pine Bluff School District described the shooting as ‘an isolated incident’ but said that all campuses in the area were placed on lockdown.
‘This was an isolated incident and all students are safe at this time,’ district officials said in a Facebook post. ‘The parent of the student hurt has been notified so if you have not been notified by the school your student is safe and secure.’
Parents are seen arriving at the school to pick up their children after the shooting
Monday was supposed to the first full day of in-person instruction in Pine Bluff schools
Parents were being allowed to pick up their children early from the school.
If the parents are not able to pick up their child, then the students can stay on campus until they are released at the end of the day.
Monday was supposed to the first full day of in-person instruction in Pine Bluff schools in several weeks because of winter weather and subsequent water issues.