Georgia: Teen Shot by Fellow Student, School Had Metal Detectors

A student has been shot in the head at a middle school in southeast Atlanta, reports say, during a conflict with another student.

After a heated discussion with the gunman that started “talking smack,” Telvis Douglas ran away just as his attacker pulled the gun, outside the school.

His wounds were shallow and he survived the attack, being released from hospital care on Thursday, January 31.

Press TV writes that the Price Middle School had metal detectors installed, leaving officials to wonder how the shooter brought the gun in, in the first place.

“So the obvious question, of course, is how did this (the firearm) get past a metal detector?” Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Erroll Davis asked in a press conference. “We do not know,” he said, answering his own question.

An investigation into how the student got past not only the metal detectors is ongoing. An armed security guard was on duty the day of the shooting. The guard is an off-duty police officer, who puts in hours at the school. He disarmed and restrained the shooter after the incident.

A teacher's aide was also wounded during the commotion after the shooting, and is currently recovering, WSB-TV reports.

A source with Atlanta Public Schools told reporters that the unnamed minor shooter opened fire into the crowd as other students were panicking and running away after the initial incident. Officials have not commented on the claim as of yet.

“Gun violence in and around our schools is simply unconscionable and must end. Too many young people are being harmed, and too many families are suffering from unimaginable and unnecessary grief.

“I pray that the student who was shot today at Price Middle School in southwest Atlanta recovers quickly and can return home to family and friends,” noted Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed during a press conference.