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14-year-old boy charged in father's killing, S.C. school shooting

 
Korrie Bennett hugs Heather Bailey after recovering their children following a shooting at Townville Elementary on Wednesday. A teenager was charged as a juvenile Friday in the slaying of his father and the school shooting, which injured two students and a teacher.  [Independent-Mail via Associated Press]
Korrie Bennett hugs Heather Bailey after recovering their children following a shooting at Townville Elementary on Wednesday. A teenager was charged as a juvenile Friday in the slaying of his father and the school shooting, which injured two students and a teacher. [Independent-Mail via Associated Press]
Published Sept. 30, 2016

ANDERSON, S.C. — A 14-year-old South Carolina boy was charged as a juvenile Friday with murder and three counts of attempted murder after authorities say he killed his father and opened fire on students at a school playground, wounding three people.

The boy did not show any emotion as he walked into the courtroom wearing a yellow jumpsuit. He was unrestrained, not wearing handcuffs or leg shackles, as required by state law in most juvenile cases.

His lawyer, Frank Epps, noted that the teen has given a statement to law enforcement and asked that investigators not question him again without his lawyer present. The judge agreed to that, and ordered the teen to be held in jail.

The boy's mother sat on the front row during the brief hearing and left the courtroom sobbing and leaning on another woman.

The Associated Press typically does not identify juveniles charged with crimes.

Authorities say the teen shot his 47-year-old father Jeffrey Osborne at their home on Wednesday afternoon before driving a pickup truck 3 miles down a country road to Townville Elementary. The teen — who is not old enough to have a driver's license — had to make only two turns to arrive at the red brick school, where he crashed the truck, got out and started firing during recess.

Bullets struck two students, critically injuring one of them, and a first-grade teacher. The building was immediately placed on lock down.

Authorities have not released a motive for the killing or the school shooting. They have said the boy was being homeschooled, but have not explained why.

Prosecutors haven't given any indication about whether they will ask to try the teen as an adult. When juveniles accused of violent crimes are 14 or 15, a prosecutor has 30 days to ask a family court judge to try the teen as an adult. If denied, the prosecutor can appeal to the circuit court, which can order the transfer. In South Carolina, 16-year-olds accused of murder are automatically tried as an adult.

Anderson 4 Superintendent Joanne Avery said staff saved lives by flawlessly implementing active-shooter training drills conducted with students at Townville Elementary, most recently as last week.

A teacher, though shot in the shoulder, "was with-it enough" to close the door, lock it and barricade the students, Avery said.

"If he'd gotten in the school, it would've been a different scenario," she said.

The shooter then fired toward students on the playground but missed. A teacher who heard the first gunshot was able to get those students safely inside, Avery said.

Relatives of one of the wounded, 6-year-old Jacob Hall, said he remained on life support in a hospital. His family issued a statement late Thursday saying the boy sustained a major brain injury due to the amount of blood he lost after being shot in the leg.

His older brother, Gerald Gambrell, told the Greenville News that the family is "hoping for a miracle."

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A sign outside a diner conveyed the sentiments of an entire community: "Pray for Jacob. Pray for Townville."

The shot teacher and another student who was hit in the foot were treated and released from a hospital, officials said.

Classes are scheduled to resume at the school Monday.