NewsNational

Actions

Seventh-grader who shot himself at Ohio school dies from injuries

Posted at 8:38 AM, Feb 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-21 16:12:48-05

A 13-year-old student who shot himself in a boy's restroom at Jackson Memorial Middle School near Canton, Ohio on Tuesday has died from his injuries. 

Authorities have not said whether the boy shot himself on purpose or the gun went off accidentally. 

Police will hold a news conference at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

On Tuesday, investigators found "distractionary-type" devices in the boy's backpack. Police said the devices were not explosives and they didn't find any devices that "would have done harm to others." 

Authorities defined "distractionary-type" devices as something that would grab a person's attention by creating smoke or a loud noise.

Sources say ammo was also found in the backpack. 

Jackson Township middle school and high school students were dismissed for the day after the boy shot himself around 7:50 a.m. on Tuesday.

 

 

RELATED: Father of Jackson Township student says he put body armor in son's book bag over the weekend

The following message was posted on Jackson Local Schools website:

Parents and other family members gathered outside the school as they waited anxiously for their children.

Gina Larkins, who has a daughter in eighth grade at the Jackson Memorial Middle School, said she was on her way to drop off her daughter who's in third grade when she saw police activity around the middle school.

“I received a phone call from the superintendent that the middle school and high school was on lockdown and all the elementary schools would be closed. I just pulled in waiting to hear further information," said Larkins.

Parents in the area were already on edge this week following the horrific mass shooting at a Florida school.

"I just want to get my daughter and hug her and hold her. I thought it would never happen here but obviously, that is not the case," said Larkins, who was emotional at the thought of what could've happened.