Officials say a 12-year-old boy was fatally shot by a classmate at a South Carolina middle school.

Officials stated on Thursday that a 12-year-old student was fatally shot by a classmate at a South Carolina middle school.

According to the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, the accused gunman, also 12, was arrested and charged with murder and other firearm counts in the shooting at Tanglewood Middle School in Greenville.

The sheriff's office said in a statement that no further injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
Officials say a school resource officer phoned for emergency backup at 12:30 p.m.

Thursday after hearing gunshots at the school. Authorities later discovered that a student had shot another student and that the two had known one other, according to the sheriff's office.

According to authorities, the suspect fled the school after the shooting and was discovered hiding under a deck at a nearby home by deputies. During the arrest, they also discovered a weapon, according to the statement.

Sheriff Hobart Lewis stated in a statement, "My heart hurts for this young boy's family, and my thoughts are with them tonight."
"I'll also be praying for the family of the other little lad who pulled the trigger.

I'm not sure what would drive someone to do such a thing to another human being, especially one so young, but I know it's a scenario in which we all need to turn to God."

According to the sheriff's office, the motive for the shooting and how the suspect obtained the pistol are still under investigation. The Greenville County Coroner's Office stated that more information regarding the victim will be released on Friday.

In addition to the murder charge, the suspect is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a person under the age of 18, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession of a firearm on school property, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to the sheriff's office.

The suspect will be taken to a juvenile detention facility in Columbia, South Carolina.

To guarantee their own and others' safety, the sheriff advised parents to communicate with their children and engage with them.

"Check their belongings to make sure they don't have anything dangerous to themselves or others. It does take a village, and we need everyone's help "Lewis remarked.

According to its website, Tanglewood Middle School serves around 780 students in grades 6 through 8.