Kim Luciani,Genna Contino|Greenville News
A child has died following a shooting at Tanglewood Middle School in Greenville Thursday.
At 12:30 p.m., a school resource officer requested emergency backup after a student was shot, the Greenville County Sheriff's Office said.
The child, identified as Jamari Cortez Bonaparte Jackson,died of a gunshot wound to the chest at 1:30 p.m. at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital,according to the Greenville County Coroner's Office. He was shot at 12:20 p.m.
Another student was taken into custody, according to Sheriff Hobart Lewis.
Students were taken from the school to a Simpsonville church to be reunited with their families.
"I have spoken with Sheriff Lewis and SLED Chief (Mark) Keel about the shooting at Tanglewood Middle School," South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said Thursday in a message in Twitter. "I’m grateful for the officers and agents who responded quickly and admirably to an immensely difficult situation."
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Here's what we know Friday:
Jamari Jackson killed in shootingat Tanglewood Middle
Marshall Jackson, who identified himself as the child's grandfather, told The Greenville News his grandson died in the shooting at the middle school.
The Greenville County Coroner's Office and a family spokespersonidentified him Friday asJamari Cortez Bonaparte-Jackson.
The 12-year-old was shot once in the 700 wing of the school, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Student in custody, could be charged with murder
A 12-year-old student was taken into custody away from the Tanglewood Middle campus, according to the Sheriff's Office.
The student was taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia, and the Sheriff's Office is planning to pursue charges ofmurder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession of afirearmon school property and unlawful possession of a weapon by a person under 18.
Parents waited in fear miles away after shooting
After the shooting, Tanglewood students were taken by buses more than 18 miles and about 25 minutes away via the fastest route to Brookwood Church in Simpsonville.
Tensions ran high as many parents waitedtwo hours inside the church to be reunited with their children, some of whom had no way to contact their parents to let them know they were OK.
Did the students know each other?
According to theSheriff's Office, the students involved in the shooting knew each other and the incident was isolated,but a motive for the shooting is still under investigation.
Vigils planned for Tanglewood victim as prayers go out for suspect, too
A vigil was held in front of Tanglewood Middle School Thursday night. A few people met to pray for healing, for the families of the victim and the suspect, too.
A spokesperson for Jackson's family will provide updates in front of Tanglewood Middle School at 3:30 p.m. Friday.
A second, more formalvigil was planned for 8 p.m. Friday at Grace Bible Church on Old Easley Bridge Road.
Relentless Church invited students, facultyand families of Tanglewoodto Pursuit Night at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdayfor an evening of prayer and healing.
Jackson's mother, Juanite Jackson, is accepting donations for the family on Cash App at $nitabug93.
Activist Paul Guy, a former Greenville County sergeant and former candidate for sheriff, held a press conference Friday to discuss the Tanglewood shooting.
It takes a community to stop youth violence, he said.
"We have two victims, one in jail and one in the mortuary," Guy said.
The Put Down the Guns Now Young People organization and founder Jack Loganhanded out gun locks near the school Friday morning.
Fisher Middle School students were encouraged to wearTanglewood's blue and white to colors on Friday, according to a social media post by the school.
"There is an immeasurable amount of pain, grief, and confusion in our community right now," the post reads. "Love your loved ones and know that we are here to support our school community."
Where is Tanglewood Middle School?
Tanglewood Middle School is located on Merriwoods Drive in Greenville, South Carolina, and serves grades sixthrough eight.
There were 814 students enrolled at the school for the 2021-22 school year, according to a report to parents and the community.
History of school shootings in SC
The shooting at Tanglewood Middle School in Greenville marked another incident in a long history of school shootings in South Carolina.
» Sept. 26, 1988: Two 8-year-olds were killed in a school shooting at Oakland Elementary School in Greenwood.
» January1994: A 17-year-old was fatally shot by a fellow student at Eau Claire High School in Columbia.
» October 1995: A suspended student shot a teacher in the face at Blackville-HildaHigh School in Blackville and then fatally shot himself.
» September 2016: Six-year-old Jacob Hall was killed in a shooting at Townville Elementary School in Anderson County.
Check back for more on this developing story.
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