Teen Shoots Teacher, 2 Boys at Elementary School After Killing Father; One Child in Critical Condition: Cops

The teen, who was not identified, shot the students and a teacher during recess, authorities said.

A teenage gunman opened fire at an elementary school in South Carolina Wednesday, wounding a teacher and two children, one of them critically, before he was arrested, authorities said.

The initial 911 call came from a teacher at Townville Elementary who said an armed male was on campus and had shot a student, according to Taylor Jones, emergency services director for Anderson County.

A female teacher was shot in the shoulder, a boy was shot in the foot and another male student was shot in the leg, Sheriff’s Office Capt. Garland Major said at an evening press conference.

Local reports said the shooter was 14 and may be charged as juvenile. A Greenville hospital spokeswoman identified one of the boys as Jacob Hall and said he remains in critical condition. His parents, Rodger and Renae Hall, thanked the community for its support, but asked in a statement for privacy.

Local media reports said the boy was 6, but authorities did not release the ages of the injured students. The teacher was not identified. 

The teenage suspect opened fire at about 1:45 p.m., authorities said. Late Wednesday, authorities said the teen had phoned his grandparents at 1:44 p.m., but was so hysterical his grandmother could not understand what he was saying. They went to the family's home and found Jeffrey Osborne, the teen's dad, shot dead.

The teenager is a suspect in the killing, authorities said. 

Authorities said they do not yet know whether there is a connection between the school victims and the Osborne family.

“We’re not going to have all the answers at one time. It may take a few days,” Major said.

The shooter was taken into custody without incident and within a matter of minutes, officials said.

The teacher was hit as she herded students inside after shots rang out during recess.

Watch: How to Use a Folding Chair to Barricade the Door During a School Shooting