OCALA, Fla. — The shooting of a 17-year-old Central Florida student on the anniversary of the Columbine school shooting by a 19-year-old man on campus was "intentional," authorities said.
- Deputies: Shooting leaves 1 injured at Ocala., Fla., high school
- Authorities: Shooter is 19-year-old Sky Bouche
- Gunman shot through a door and into a classroom
The shooting happened just before 8:45 a.m. at Forest High School in Ocala, Fla.
The shooter was identified by Sheriff Billy Woods as 19-year-old Sky Bouche. Woods said Bouche did not resist arrest and was cooperating with authorities. The FBI is also helping investigate his computer and mobile devices.
At a news conference Friday afternoon, Woods said a school resource officer, Officer Jim Long heard a "loud, bang sound. Gun shot," at 8:39 a.m.
He didn't say where in the building it happened, but officials now say Bouche shot through a door and into a classroom.
Three minutes later, the officer found a 17-year-old student shot with nonlife-threatening injuries. Officer Long did not fire his weapon and was able to engage Bouche, who was taken into custody, Woods said.
Forest High School was placed on lockdown until the school was secured and students could be evacuated to a nearby church to be reunited with parents.
Woods said the student who was hurt is in good condition. While they would not release his name, Woods said the student told Officer Long that he was glad he was shot and not his friends.
The shooting happened at Forest High School at 5000 SE Maricamp Road in Ocala, Fla., which was placed on lockdown. (Sarah Panko, staff)
"There are no other injuries," Woods said.
He said students were safe because precautions such as having a resource officer on campus were in place.
"This is not a joking matter. What happened down (in) South (Florida) almost came here to Marion County," Sheriff Billy Woods said, referencing the deadly school shooting at Parkland on Feb. 14. (Sarah Panko, staff)
"This is not a joking matter. What happened down (in) South (Florida) almost came here to Marion County," Woods said, referencing the deadly school shooting at Parkland on Feb. 14.
The Marion County School District had originally planned to train school staff on a new security protocol over the summer, but the Parkland school shooting forced them to expedite the process.
The Marion County superintendent says the decision meant teachers knew what to do to save lives.
"The hand of God was over our children today," Superintendent Heidi Maier said.
The school district will continue assessing individual school security needs, but in the mean time law enforcement, the school district and the county commission are promising more officers and deputies in every school in the county on Monday.
Also, on May 1, the Marion County Commission will consider a proposal to help fund an additional 34 school resource officers.
The shooting comes on the day of planned school walkouts across the country to protest gun laws and violence in schools and the anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre.
On April 20, 1999, 13 people were killed in a mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado. On Valentine's Day this year, 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Fla.