A Georgia middle school student was in critical condition after shooting herself on campus Wednesday afternoon, prompting a lockdown.
The incident occurred at around 2:45 p.m. at Lindley Middle School in Mableton, Ga., about 15 miles west of Atlanta.
“In conjunction with the Cobb County School Police, we responded to an incident at Lindley Middle School following a report of a person shot,” Cobb County Police Department spokesman Officer S.A. Barner told Fox 5 Atlanta. “The campus was immediately secured, and the school was placed on lockdown to ensure the safety of students and staff. We can confirm there is one victim.”
First responders were on the scene within 90 seconds, and there was no danger to the public, Cobb County School District Police Department Sgt. John McCraw told Atlanta News First. After a brief lockdown, the school was “thoroughly cleared and deemed secure,” police said.
A Cobb County School District spokesperson told Fox 5 the student had “tragically used a firearm to commit self-harm” and that first responders and school administrators immediately secured the weapon.
“Our response was overwhelming and quick,” McCraw said. “All the other kids that are in the school are safe. We got them out of the school in a timely manner and got them reunited with their parents.”
The injured student was flown to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Police had not identified the student or given any other details of the shooting as of Wednesday evening.
“Today, a student at Lindley Middle School suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said in a statement. “My heart goes out to the student, their family and the entire Lindley Middle School community.”
She urged parents to “prioritize the emotional well-being of our children, who often carry burdens that may not always be apparent.”