A teenager in Georgia is fighting for her life after being injured by a self-inflicted gunshot wound at Lindley Middle School in Cobb County. The incident took place around 2:45 p.m. when the girl used a gun to harm herself. School police said first responders arrived at the scene in just 90 seconds, and the school was put on temporary lockdown. However, the lockdown was lifted after confirming there was no further threat to students. The school was declared safe, and all the other students were quickly reunited with their parents.
Sgt. John McCraw, a spokesperson for the Cobb County School District Police Department, praised the quick response of the officers. He mentioned that the first officer, who was already at the school, was able to locate the incident area within moments. The injured student was airlifted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in critical condition, surrounded by family and loved ones.
Authorities have not yet identified the girl, and they are still working to figure out how she managed to bring the gun into the school. Police plan to interview other students to gather more information. Sgt. McCraw stated that it was still early to know how the gun was smuggled in and where it was before the incident.
After the shooting, students were taken to a nearby church, Leland United Methodist Church, where they were reunited with their parents. In a statement, Chairwoman Lisa Cupid of the school district expressed her sympathy for the student and their family. She also urged people to be cautious around the school area because of increased activity.
She reminded the community of the importance of mental health and encouraged everyone to support children who may be dealing with emotional struggles. The district provided resources to assist those affected by the incident. Cobb County residents can visit findhelp.cobbcounty.gov for local support, and anyone in need of immediate assistance can contact the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
The situation remains under investigation, and officials are working to piece together more details about the incident.
