A student at an Ocala, Fla., high school was shot and wounded Friday morning, allegedly by a 19-year-old former student.
The Ocala Star-Banner reports that the wounded student, 17, was shot in the ankle, and his injury was not life-threatening. The alleged shooter was in police custody.
Officials say the alleged gunman carried a shotgun concealed in a guitar case into the at Forest High School. Because he was a former student he was undetected as he walked in with other students. The shooter fired at the bottom of a closed classroom door, which was locked, and pellets struck the victim in the ankle.The injured student was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Police were notified of the shooting at 8:39 a.m., and the shooter was in custody about three minutes later. Police say the school's resource officer, Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy James Long, heard the gunshot and responded immediately. He arrested the alleged shooter, who offered no resistance.
The shooting occurred on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting in Jefferson County, Colo., and across the nation, many high school students are planning to demonstrate in support of gun safety.
Students were taken away from the school campus by bus to a nearby church, where parents were allowed to pick up their children.
