A 15-year-old boy was shot by his 14-year-old classmate at a Nebraska high school on Tuesday — the latest in a wave of gun violence at U.S. schools this year, authorities said.
Around 12:25 p.m., gunfire broke out at Omaha Northwest High School, leading to the campus and other schools in the area being placed on lockdown.
The victim was rushed to a local hospital where he is in stable condition, Omaha Police Department Deputy Chief Sherie Thomas told reporters in an update Tuesday afternoon. He was initially listed in critical condition.
The male suspect was arrested on the school grounds after a chase around 1 p.m.
“We believe this is an isolated incident between two students,” Thomas said, adding there is no additional threat to the public.
The school lockdown was lifted at 1:30 p.m. The students were released room by room and sent to an area near the soccer field. WOWT reported.
At 3 p.m., Omaha Public Schools announced that a majority of students had been reunited with their families at the school.
All classes and activities have been canceled for Wednesday, officials said. Students will return normally on Thursday.
“Based on the initial information, everyone at school responded appropriately. We are especially grateful for the quick action of local and state law enforcement to arrive on scene and secure a suspect,” Gov. Jim Pillen said in a statement.
“We know this was traumatic for everyone at the school and for the parents of Northwest students,” he added.
The shooting comes less than a week after 14-year-old Colt Gray allegedly shot two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in northern Georgia.
Colt and his father, Colin Gray, who bought his son the AR-15-style rifle used in the massacre as a Christmas present, have both been arrested and charged with murder.
On Friday, 16-year-old Jaylen Prince allegedly shot and killed 15-year-old classmate Warren Curtis Grant in a bathroom during a fight at a Maryland high school. The gunman was arrested at a nearby apartment complex after fleeing the school and charged with murder.
