A 14-year-old student has been arrested after allegedly shooting a classmate inside a bathroom at Warner Robins High School in Georgia, authorities said.
The ninth-grade victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment and remains under medical care.
Argument Inside School Bathroom Escalates
The shooting occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. Wednesday at the high school in Warner Robins, roughly 20 miles south of Macon.
According to the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, several students were inside a bathroom when a verbal dispute between two ninth-grade students escalated into a physical confrontation.
Investigators say one of the students then produced a firearm and shot the other before leaving the school grounds.
School Deputy Quickly Reaches Victim
A school resource deputy reached the wounded student within seconds of the shooting and immediately applied tourniquets while emergency responders were summoned.
The victim was subsequently taken to a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound. Authorities later clarified that, despite an initial report indicating that two students had been hospitalized, only one student was injured by gunfire.
School Placed Under Code Red Lockdown
The incident prompted school officials to activate a Code Red emergency protocol, keeping students and staff inside classrooms while law enforcement secured the campus.
Authorities later confirmed that the school had been secured and that there was no continuing threat to those inside the building.
Suspect Captured Less Than an Hour Later
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage that allegedly showed the suspect leaving the campus after the shooting. Officers subsequently located and arrested the 14-year-old at approximately 3:20 p.m. in the nearby Huntington Hills neighborhood.
The area where the arrest occurred is less than half a mile from the school. Authorities said the teenager was taken into custody without further incident.
Sheriff Praises Emergency Response
Houston County Sheriff Matt Moulton said the rapid response by school personnel and law enforcement helped prevent the incident from becoming more serious.
“The school threat protocol and our training were followed perfectly today,” Moulton said, adding that the response helped limit the consequences of what could have been a much more severe incident.
Federal and State Agencies Join Investigation
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, FBI and Georgia State Patrol are assisting local authorities with the case.
Investigators are conducting search warrants and following up on information gathered during the initial investigation as they work to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and determine what led to the confrontation.
Investigation Continues
Both the suspect and victim are ninth-grade students at Warner Robins High School, according to authorities. The investigation remains ongoing as officials continue examining evidence and interviewing individuals who may have witnessed the confrontation.
