A 12-year-old girl arrested in connection with a school shooting Thursday afternoon after wounding two students with a gun she thought was a toy.
Police say the young student believed the weapon was a fake when she placed it in her book bag before arriving at Salvador Castro Middle school. It remains unclear how she got a hold of the weapon.
‘This continues to be an active investigation,’ according to an LAPD statement.
A 12-year-old girl arrested in connection with a school shooting Thursday afternoon after wounding two students with a gun she thought was a toy
Police say that the young student believed the weapon was a fake when she placed it in her book bag before arriving at Salvador Castro Middle school (Pictured Feb. 2, 2018)
‘However, at this time, the information suggests that it was an isolated incident, involving the negligent discharge of a firearm, where innocent children and a staff member were unfortunately injured.’
The adolescent pupil, whose name has not been released, remained at the Los Angeles County Central Juvenile Hall Friday on a charge of negligent discharge of a firearm, according to CNN.
A seventh grader who witnessed the incident said that the incident may have been accidental (Pictured Feb. 2, 2018)
A seventh grader who witnessed the incident told KABC News that the shooting may have been accidental, noting that the ‘class thought it was a toy gun, but then it shot.’
The two victims, one 15-year-old boy and a girl of the same age, were transferred to nearby USC Medical center.
The male teenager was listed in critical condition after suffering a gunshot wound to the head, according to KABC, while the female victim was in fair condition after being shot through the wrist.
‘This child was extremely lucky,’ Dr. Aaron Strumwasser said of the boy during a news conference at the medical center. ‘The trajectory of the bullet did not hit any vital structures that were an immediate threat to life… I anticipate that he will make a full recovery.’
Three others, including an 11-year-old girl, suffered minor injuries due to shrapnel in the incident.
Two students were shot and wounded, one critically, inside a Los Angeles middle school classroom Thursday morning and police arrested a female student suspect
‘As a parent, this is everyone’s worst-case nightmare,’ LAPD Deputy Chief Bobby Arcos later said at a news conference.
The incident occurred around 9am Thursday morning at Sal Castro Middle School, which is located on the campus of Belmont High School, Los Angeles School Police said, and placed the campus on lockdown for nearly five hours.
Authorities added that the semi-automatic handgun was recovered inside the classroom where the incident transpired.
‘Our children now see more shootings and deaths than we ever did in my lifetime,’ USC Medical Hospital assistant director Inez Beckon-English said.
‘(They) pretty much can be afraid to go to school to get an education because so many shootings are taking place.’
The incident occurred around 9am Thursday morning at Sal Castro Middle School, which is located on the campus of Belmont High School