A 16-year-old student allegedly shot a 15-year-old boy during an “altercation” in the boys’ bathroom at Joppatowne High School in Joppa, Maryland, on Friday, authorities said.
The 15-year-old was treated by school nurses and the principal and then airlifted to a trauma center where he is in serious condition, Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said at a news conference.
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting inside Joppatowne High School, Sept. 6, in Joppatowne, Md.
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The 16-year-old suspect left the school and fled to a nearby house, the sheriff said. He was arrested “within minutes” thanks to community members, Gahler said.
The shooting occurred on the suspect’s first day of school, although it is now four days into the school year, Gahler said.
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting inside Joppatowne High School, Sept. 6, in Joppatowne, Md.
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It appears a shot was fired in the incident, the sheriff said, noting the gun has not been recovered.
Authorities do not know what the apparent argument was about, the sheriff said.
The suspect is known to police and police have previously responded to calls involving the teenager, authorities said.
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting inside Joppatowne High School, Sept. 6, in Joppatowne, Md.
WJLA
More than 100 officers responded to the scene in Joppa, about 55 miles northeast of Baltimore, Gahler said.
“We’re just devastated to be part of this horrible group of schools that have experienced things like this,” said Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Sean Bulson. “And we’re going to do everything we can, work with this community, to make sure this absolutely never happens again.”
The school does not have metal detectors, officials said.