Carolina School Shooting Suspect Said To Have Killed Father Before Attack

A 14-year-old, homeschooled South Carolina boy killed his father at home, then went to a nearby elementary school to shoot two boys and a teacher with a handgun. Because of his age, the boy's name was not released, but he was taken into custody soon after the shooting.

County District 4 Superintendent Joanne Avery credited the quick response to the principal, teachers, and staff, all of which who "kept this horrific tragedy from being much worse." The boy's victims also included a student who was shot in the leg, another shot in the foot, and a teacher, who was shot in the shoulder. Fox News reported that the shooter never entered the school building - he was apprehended by Jamie Brock, a volunteer of the Townville Volunteer Fire Department.

It was not after the shooting that the father of the shooter, Jeffrey Osborne, was found dead with a gunshot wound after a 911 call from family members. The suspect's grandparents, who were said to live nearby, recalled getting a phone call from their grandson, who was crying and upset. They were not able to understand what he was saying, but became concerned. They decided to go to their son's home, where they found him dead by gunshot.

The suspect, according to the New York Times, drove about three miles to school, but nobody knew where he was able to get the vehicle. He never made it inside the campus, as he was apprehended by Brock outside the school. The remaining students were bused to the Oak Dale Baptist Church, and were then reunited with their parents.

Motives for the shooting still remain unclear - there is no known connection between the suspect and the school or its victims. The suspect's mother, meanwhile, was at work, and found out about the incident when she saw news of the shooting on television.