RUSKIN, Fla. — Lennard High School was put in a shelter-in-place status Thursday afternoon as the sheriff's office investigated reports of a gun on campus and a gunshot victim at a local hospital.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, deputies were notified by South Bay Hospital staff of an 18-year-old with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Detectives found out the victim shot himself while in the parking lot of Lennard High School. HCSO contacted the school resource deputy and school administration. The school was then placed on lockdown.
HCSO detectives said the preliminary investigation showed the man was a former student and returned to campus daily to meet with a 17-year-old friend. On Thursday, the former student got into the car with the 17-year-old and found a gun.
Detectives said the former student accidentally shot himself in the car. Then got out of the 17-year-old's car and went back to his car, and drove himself to the hospital.
The HCSO said deputies searched the campus for the gun and eventually detained the 17-year-old. According to the HCSO, the gun was found inside the car belonging to the 17-year-old.
The lockdown was then lifted, and students were released Thursday afternoon.
The 17-year-old is now facing a felony charge of possession of a weapon on school property. The shooting victim isn't facing any charges at this time.
“I cannot thank or praise the school administrators enough for their professionalism and sense of urgency in protecting the staff and students here at Lennard High School,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “While this firearm was not brought into the classroom, we take the threat of a firearm on campus very seriously. The safety and security of schools is a top priority.”
Dr. David Thomas is a forensics professor at Florida Gulf Coast University and a former police officer. And he said the incident, unfortunately, isn't surprising.
"Shootings are very common in that age group," he said.
He added that law enforcement will now work to figure out how that 17-year-old got his hands on a gun in the first place.
"Just as they are readily available to those of us who are of legal age and purchase them legally. There's a same kind of black market out there for kids," Dr. Thomas said.
Dr. Thomas added that it could have also been grabbed from an unlocked car or from someone's home. And if it's the latter, the legal owner of that gun could face charges.
"As an adult and this is your household. You are responsible for securing that firearm," he said.
Lastly, Thomas said HCSO will also be working to determine why that teen felt the need to be armed.
"There have been some studies that have been done as to why kids bring weapons to school. And those studies recognize that oftentimes those kids bring weapons to school because those kids are afraid," he said.
That 17-year-old is expected to make his first appearance in court on Friday.
We're also told by the Hillsborough County Public School District that he will "not be returning to Lennard High School."
