2 Students Injured After Gun Goes Off in Atlanta High School
One student was shot in the ankle and another was grazed by the same bullet inside of a classroom at Banneker High School.
Three students will face charges in connection with the incident.
Two Atlanta high school students were injured after a gun went off inside a classroom on Thursday.
Fulton County Schools spokeswoman Susan Hale says school police responded to reports of a “loud pop” from inside a tenth-grade classroom at Banneker High School at around 3:25 p.m. An assistant administrator found a small splattering of blood on the floor and called 911.
One female student was shot in the ankle and the same bullet grazed another student in what Hale says was an “accidental discharge of a weapon”, according to AJC.
Police located a low-caliber handgun in a box in another student’s backpack. Both students were treated for minor injuries.
School officials have not said who fired the weapon but did say the gun didn’t belong to either of the injured students. A staff member says at least one student was taken away in handcuffs.
“The investigation into this incident is ongoing and the Fulton County School Police Department plans to file criminal charges against everyone involved in this incident in accordance with district policy,” says Hale.
Three students will face charges in connection with the incident. One student is to be charged with one count of possession of a weapon and one count of a weapon on campus. Two others are to be charged with reckless conduct because of their contact with the weapon. The student who Hale says was “innocently shot in the ankle” will not face charges.
Parents say they were notified of the shooting by email and phone but not until three hours after the incident occurred.
“They need to tighten up. They need better security. They need metal detectors in these schools. They need to search these kids as they enter the school,” parent Evelyn Fields told WSB-TV.
The school banned backpacks the day after the incident as a safety precaution.
If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
About the Author
Amy Rock, Executive Editor
Amy is Campus Safety’s Executive Editor. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing.
Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe.
Related Content
Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century
This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!
