Bond Set for Suspect in Columbus School Shooting
The shooting suspect is a student at the school, which is a public school for emotionally disturbed students in grades 6-12.
The suspect, 18-year-old Adan Abdullahi, has been charged with improperly discharging a firearm in a school safety zone.
Bond has been set for the suspect in the shooting at a Columbus, Ohio school on Friday.
Adan Abdullahi, 18, has been charged with improperly discharging a firearm in a school safety zone, which is a felony. Police say Abdullahi may face other charges.
His bond was set at $950,000 on Saturday morning at Franklin County Municipal Court. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 18.
Police say Abdullahi fired three shots inside Columbus Scioto 6-12, a public school for emotionally disturbed students, reports ABC News.
Ian Addis, a ninth grader at the school, says he heard one of the shots. “We all went to a lockdown and we had to just go hide near the lockers,” says Addis.
Two staff members were able to call 9-1-1, one from inside a closet. The other says she watched the shooter walk the halls, talking to himself.
Columbus Police Chief Kimberley Jacobs says another staff member talked to Abdullahi and was able to calm him down before police arrived.
The Columbus police department’s SWAT team made the arrest and seized a hand gun. No one was injured in the shooting.
Shortly after the incident, Columbus City Schools tweeted, ensuring parents that all students and staff were safe and urging them not to come to the school.
After the school was secured, students were transported to Linmoor Ed Center where counselors were on hand.
The school does not have metal detectors, but students are routinely patted down and sometimes asked to remove their shoes before entering the school, according to the Seattle Times.
“Parents need to be aware of what their kids are taking to school,” says Jacobs. “Guns are always going to be dangerous in the hands of people that don’t really think always about the consequences. It’s really important that we know what our kids are doing and keep guns out of their hands.”
School officials say they will be reviewing security procedures following the incident.
Records show police have been called to the school 274 times in the past three years alone, one time following the report of a person with a gun. There is currently no resource officer at the school.
School spokesman Scott Varner says teachers and staff will report to work today but the school is closed to students. The school will reopen on Tuesday where grief counselors will be available.
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!
