Early Thursday morning, a veteran Lithia Springs High School teacher walked to his classroom, pulled out a handgun and shot himself, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said.
Few details have been released.
However, officials said the teacher is stable, students are safe and the gun the teacher used has been secured. No one witnessed the shooting, which occurred before the start of the school day.
Classes were canceled and frantic parents scrambled to pick up their children from the school.
Here’s what we know so far:
12:16 p.m.: In response to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter’s question about possible charges, the sheriff’s office would only say the agency’s criminal investigation is ongoing.
11:56 a.m.: Cleanup efforts are underway at the school, and classes will resume Friday, Douglas sheriff’s Sgt. Jesse Hambrick said.
About 1,100 students have been picked up from the school. Less than a handful of students remain on the campus.
11:55 a.m.: A handgun has been recovered and is secured, Douglas sheriff’s Sgt. Jesse Hambrick said. "Obviously we do not allow teachers to carry handguns on our property," he said. However, there is no way of checking teachers to make sure they don't have weapons on them, he said.
11:50 a.m.: The teacher who shot himself in his classroom at Lithia Springs High School made his way out to other parts of the school after the shooting, Douglas sheriff’s Sgt. Jesse Hambrick said during a second press conference. And a fellow staff member found him. She then directed another staff member to call 911.
Officials insist students did not witness the shooting.
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