A 12-year-old boy is dead and his classmate is in police custody following a shooting at a middle school in South Carolina.
The incident happened Thursday at Tanglewood Middle School in Greenville, about two hours northeast of Columbia.
The victim has been identified as Jamari Cortez Bonaparte Jackson.
The alleged shooter is also 12 years old, according to the Greenville County Sheriff's Office. He was arrested on charges of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession of a firearm on school property and unlawful possession of a weapon by a person under the age of 18, and is being held at the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia.
"My heart breaks for this young boy's family and my prayers are with them. Additionally, I will be praying for the other young boy who pulled the trigger and his family," Sheriff Hobart Lewis said in a statement. "I can not fathom what would cause someone to do this to another human being and especially at that age."
According to police, a school resource officer who was working at the school requested emergency backup at 12:23 p.m. after hearing shots fired.
"We soon learned that the gunfire was from a 12-year-old student who shot another 12-year-old student inside the... school," police said in a statement.
Jackson was rushed to the hospital where he died. No one else was injured.
After the shooting, the suspect ran away from the school.
"Just before 1:30 p.m. the Sheriff's Office learned the possible suspect was at a residence," police said. "When deputies arrived they located him hiding under a deck. The suspect was taken into custody and a handgun was recovered."
The sheriff's office said Jackson and the suspect knew each other but the motive for the shooting is still unknown. Investigators are also still trying to determine how the suspect was able to get possession of a firearm.
"While this incident is heartbreaking on all accounts, we are very thankful for the efficient and timely responses by all first responders, students, parents and faculty who played a part of bringing calm and resolve to a chaotic situation," Lewis said. "Everyone in the community came together during this difficult time and it certainly has helped in this matter."
The sheriff also urged parents to talk with their children about the incident, saying: "Check their belongings and ensure they don't have anything that could be a danger to themselves or anyone else."
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