A crazed teen took aim at innocent children and opened fire at an elementary school Wednesday.
Thanks to the incredibly heroic actions of an unarmed volunteer firefighter, the teenager was stopped before he could inflict mass causalities.
Two students and a teacher were wounded outside a South Carolina school after the teen killed his father at their home, authorities said.
Anderson County Sheriff John Skipper said the shooter was apprehended Wednesday afternoon outside rural Townville Elementary School before he could get inside the building… by a firefighter using his bare hands.
Firefighter Jamie Brock, a 30-year veteran of the Townville Volunteer Fire Department down the road from the school, “just took him down,” the sheriff said. He said the fire station is close to the school and Brock arrived before others officers responding to the dispatch.
Brock has said he doesn’t want attention for his actions.
He “wants to remain humble and quiet about it” as he believes “he did nothing any of the other volunteer firefighters wouldn’t have done,” said Scott Stoller with Anderson County Emergency Management.
Regardless, he said, “Firefighter Brock is absolutely a hero.”
Authorities said the shooting spree began at the teen’s house about 2 miles from the school, where he gunned down his 47-year-old father, Jeffrey Osborne. Authorities have not released the suspect’s name or age beyond saying he’s a teen.
Crying and upset, the teen called his grandmother’s cellphone at 1:44 p.m., Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore said. The grandparents couldn’t understand what was going on, so they went to his home just 100 yards away. When they got there, they found Osborne dead and their grandson gone.
About one minute later, authorities received a 911 call from a teacher at the school in this rural town about 110 miles northeast of Atlanta.
The shooter drove a truck into the school parking lot and immediately started firing as he got out and moved toward the school, Skipper said. He did not know who the truck the teen drove was registered to and declined to say how many shots were fired.
One student was shot in the leg and the other in the foot, sheriff’s Capt. Garland Major said. Both students were male. The female teacher was hit in the shoulder.
“We are heartbroken about this senseless act of violence,” said Joanne Avery, superintendent of Anderson County School District 4. She canceled classes at the school for the rest of the week.
Television images showed officers swarming the school after the report of an active shooter. Some were on top of the roof while others were walking around the building. Students were driven away on buses accompanied by police officers to a nearby church.
Authorities said they don’t yet know a motive for the shooting and they were not sure if the students and teacher were targeted. The sheriff said the teen had been homeschooled.
“There are no racial undertones there. There’s no terrorism involved,” Major said. “We’re confident we have the sole shooter and no one else is involved.”
Skipper said the teen’s mother was at work at the time of the shooting.
One of the students and the teacher were released from the hospital Wednesday evening, AnMed Health spokeswoman Juana Slade said. Greenville Health System spokeswoman Sandy Dees said the other student, Jacob Hall, remained in critical condition.
The school surrounded by working farms has about 300 students in its pre-kindergarten to sixth-grade classrooms. About 90 percent of the students are white, according to state records.
“This is the country,” Brandi Pierce, the mother of a sixth-grader, told The Associated Press as she began to cry. “You don’t have this in the country.”
Jamie Meredith, a student’s mother, said some of the children went into a bathroom during the shooting.
“I don’t know how they knew to go in the bathroom, but I know her teacher was shaken up. I know all the kids were scared. There was a bunch of kids crying. She didn’t talk for about five minutes when I got her,” she told WYFF-TV, Greenville.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley released a statement from her and her husband after the shooting.
“As we work together with law enforcement to make sure they have the support they need to investigate what happened in Townville, Michael and I ask that everyone across South Carolina join us in praying for the entire Townville Elementary School family and those touched by today’s tragedy.”
The town is situated along Interstate 85 near the Georgia-South Carolina state line.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
This appears to be another instance when the faher failed to secure firearms in the home. Not a good plan.
Really ? That’s what you are focused on. Go bother people in some other country anti-american you still are free to do that in other words get out of our country and leave US alone oh and by the way that is not what the story is about at all read it again.
Is it un-American to ask for common sense, Ann? This teenager got the gun somewhere. He didn’t go to the store and buy his own. This rash of killings will encourage Congress to pass more stringent firearms legislation. Pretty soon all you’ll be able to own will be a single-shot rifle.
You’r kidding right ? You really think that would have stopped this kid if anything all it did was encourage it even more. wow they did a no. on your mind it’s going to take a while to unravel it and straighten it out.
Well Jerry, he no doubt would have gotten a gun one way or another, if they are out to kill, they will find a way, trust me!!!!
So where did you get your information? Now another excuse to blame someone other than the shooter for his stupid escapade.
There have been bars and liquor stores closed in the Twin Cities (MN) because of amount of violent criminal behavior in the vicinity. Your argument about individual responsibility didn’t work in this case. People in US need to wise up before more legislation is passed. I’m willing to propose that every legal firearm owner also have a safe to store it. Now let’s hear your cussing!!
This also makes it more difficult for burglars to steal your firearms/ammo if they burglarize your house. This is how many criminals acquire illegal weapons. Then sell them on the streets.
clearly you have no clue what the hell is going on you’ll be dead before you can say boo.
Jerry, come on, let us wait until the facts are revealed. It is such premature “shouting of fire” that causes riots.
Learn to read before starting another stupid “blame everyone but the shooter” rant. It says NOWHERE in the article where the gun came from. Teenagers are old enough to know better. I can see securing guns away from unsupervised youngsters (meaning too young to know better). You sound like another big mouthed idiot with your hands over your ears whining “guns are bad! guns are bad! guns are bad! guns are bad! guns are bad! guns are bad! guns are bad! …on and on and on and on forever! Your overly simplistic point of view shows how overly simplistic YOU are! I would bet that you are of the opinion that “we should just take them all!”, which will never work. It’s not that simple. Look at what’s happened in other places where guns were taken from the citizens- it’s called genocide. Sorry to tell you this, but the genie is out of the bottle- you can’t uninvent the gun. If I seem very sensitive about this subject, I am!
I’m sick of having to point out obvious facts to people who don’t want to hear them but want to control the narrative. If you want some actual facts, try reading “More Guns, Less Crime” by John Lott. Meanwhile take your communistic views to another country where guns aren’t allowed to the public- start with Haiti, you’ll absolutely love it there!
It’s the person, not the gun, that does the crime. It could have been a screwdriver, knife, ice pick, etc. Don’t focus on what is used, rather focus on what was done and by who. You cannot disarm the county of all devices that can take a life. The only opportunity to reduce violence is to identify the real problem (which is the person) and defuse them or educate them to a better understanding of reality. Most of these people are nuts that have serious development or mental health issues. The media holds some responsibility here as they always propagate the wrong information due to their built in political views. The media cannot and will not simply tell the truth about an incident without taking a political twist to put forward their view. It is unhealthy for America to allow this ‘politics as usual’ to continue. Many people are “monkey see, monkey do”. The media know this and depend on it.
Or their mother’s crockpot
Gee Jerry, my old man shown me where he hid the key to our gun cabinet when I was 10 or 12 yo. He wanted me to be able to get at them if I needed one and he wasn’t there. But then I’ve been shooting since I could walk.
Well a hole he’s dead so let’s blame it all on the dead man and not his crazy teen!
Guns DON’T kill people, PEOPLE kill people! If someone wants to kill, they will find a way to do it! GUNS, KNIVES, BASEBALL BATS, ROCKS, it doesn’t matter! ALL are deadly in the wrong hands!
By the way—Jamie Brock is a TRUE American Hero! We need more Americans like him!! Here’s an idea–lets arm ALL American citizens & watch each others back! Let’s put criminals in fear of breaking the law & hurting innocent people!! Fight fire with fire!!!!
you could not be more right !
Jerry, it wouldn’t have mattered, there are other weapons and other ways to kill. Having your own protection is not wrong.
Mr. Brock thank you for what you did to save lives. You are a true hero!!
Captain Major was so bold to say that ‘There’s no terrorism involved.’ I beg to differ with you Captain. Any form of violence is a form of terrorism. Especially in these difficult and uncertain times.
God bless the people and students of Townville Elementary School.
I believe that with which the captain was referring was Islamic exstremist based terrorism. A mentally distrubed adolescent does not make for a terrorist. Yes it is true others were in deed in great fear but terrorized hardly.
I’m glad to hear this firefighter got involved. He probably saved several people’s lives.
The truth is what i like to see and read thank you
Agree. He’s a true hero!
Yep, I agree. I wonder how many anti-depression and anti psychotics this kid was on? My guess is a least 2. The side effects are epic. The effect is no feelings at all, agitation, and a myriad of others including depression, this I know from personal experience. Drs like to throw pills at the problem and stupid commercials encourage to take them showing happy people frolicking through lush green grass and picking daisies. The kid was obviously disturbed and the firefighter a hero.
Mr Brock’s is a TRUE hero! He’s a good role model for all of us. Many blessings to him and his family!!!
I spent time writing the last comment, only to watch it disappear into thin air. Screw your censors and your website.
your post went through and it’s a good one too.
To bad the FIREFIGHTER didn’t break the kids neck. ////////////////////////////
The irrationality of the entire epsode suggests psychiatric drugs, which are known to prompt this kind of behavior. If the kid didn’t want to take his meds eventually the problem, exacerbated by the after-effect of the drug, manifests itself in extremely suicidal and homicidal ideation. By no longer taking the drug there is no barrier left against the now-overwhelming after-effects of the drug. And thus you see the vicious cycle of the psych drug approach to mental problems. And now you have a dead father, a wounded teacher and two wounded students, yet the medical reliance on psych drugs continues.
The irrationality of the entire epsode suggests psychiatric drugs, which are known to prompt this kind of behavior. If the kid didn’t want to take his meds eventually the problem, exacerbated by the after-effect of the drug, manifests itself in extremely suicidal and homicidal ideation. By no longer taking the drug there is no barrier left against the now-overwhelming after-effects of the drug. And thus you see the vicious cycle of the psych drug approach to mental problems. And now you have a dead father, a wounded teacher and two wounded students, yet the medical reliance on psych drugs continues.
Folks,
I’m a retired child psychiatrist…….unfortunately we have NO idea what went on with this teen. The only info we have is he tragically killed his father (was the dad the home schooler and not the mother, which I have found is the norm), …..the fact he was home schooled in a rural setting points to possibly the school was unable to “handle” the teen. [autism, ADHD, etc]. He must have been an older teen if he was able to drive a pick-up to the school, and yet the shooting spree was at an elementary school and he was overpowered by the Good Samaritan. At this point, I cannot even suggest a motive, but most violent crimes I’ve dealt with are either due to severe psychiatric issues that haven’t been previously diagnose, or have been diagnosed and the patient has not been taking his meds appropriately. The last general category is the sociopath – being self-centered and devoid of remorse or guilt, have no problem killing or maiming others. Just keep in mind, we have NO idea about this teen, his mind-set, home live, personal/social skills, etc.
I recommend not reading any more into this horrible incident until they release more info. I am also a past Marine Corp team sniper…….I have always and will always concur “people kill people” and if they want to kill, will do so with any means available. Unfortunately, the media corners themselves with “pro-gun or anti-gun” rhetoric which totally exonerates the perpetrator, negates the life of the victim(s), and forever muddies a logical investigation for the “how and why” things happened, and, as a result, with trying to make the perpetrator into victim, no “blame” is sought and the lessons of “how to prevent it from happening in the future” are totally overlooked and lost. Hopefully, if the White House and the DOJ stay out of this, level-headed investigators can get to the bottom of this, find root causes, and work to eliminate them to minimize this from happening. That may not be possible, but as human being, we have to try, or we are doomed to repeat the same situation over and over and over.
Thanks for listening
Thank you Doc for speaking. I agree homeschool happens cuz of friction in public aimed at student who doesn’t fit in tapioca. But it just as much the brilliant held back and told to shut up & conform as it is the slow who can’t keep up.
You can’t say that no one knows why he was homeschooled since obama took office homeschool rosed enormously because of what’s been exposed on what the public schools are teaching the kids parents are willingly pulling there kids out.
Doc, your comment is a masterpiece of Common Sense, logic and intelligence.
when guns are out lawed only the bad guys will have them!!!!! To most of us gun owners there are so many gun laws on the books and I live in Florida, when will the likes of Hillery wake up and use them. So to all that vote for her remember you are going to get what you vote for.
Love firefighters!!! Mine are one big, strong miracle group of dedicated to humanity soles. Firefighter Brock is a Firefighter. He is a hero.As he said all dedicated firefighters are this way…would have done same. Its true. They bless us all. Love & bless them. As for the ridiculous comments blaming the weapon, instead of the cold immorality or sick mind of the person who misused it to kill….that’s akin to blaming the match, instead of the pyro who purposely lit a wildfire!!!
Hell-lary would it loved that this crazy guy carried out his killing spree so she can use that on her campaign to ban guns from law abiding citizens. Ill bet you anything that since there was no massacre it eont make it on the clintons pay media
I would like to know exactly what the Fire fighter did. Did come up behind him? Did he just come forward, and grab the gun? What happened?
What good is a gun locked up in a cabinet? Do you think a criminal is going to wait until you unlock the case, load the gun, then aim it at him/her? Guns in the home are for protection of the occupants. It is not always possible to keep them out of the hands of others in the family. Were there warning signs that this teen was so troubled that he would take such action? We don’t know at this point and shouldn’t speculate at what went on inside the home.