COLUMBIA, S.C. – Authorities in South Carolina disarmed and removed several pipe bombs they found in a high school after a freshman confronted an on-campus officer and fired a gun before being taken into custody, police said.
About 1,400 students at Socastee High School in the northeast part of the state were evacuated to a football field after the confrontation Tuesday. Students returned to school Wednesday after walking through metal detectors.
The incident began when school resource officer Erik Karney encountered the freshman and the two got into a struggle, Horry County Police spokesman Sgt. Robert Kegler said. During the fight, the student shot at Karney, and while the bullet missed him, the officer was injured after it struck a wall, Kegler said.
Karney disarmed the student and took him into custody. Karney was later treated and released from a hospital.
Police said they also found items "consistent with the construction of pipe bombs and other incendiary devices" at the student's Myrtle Beach home.
The student has not been identified because of his age. He is expected to appear in Family Court, possibly as early as Friday, prosecutor Greg Hembree said.
Hembree intends to bring a charge of attempted murder against the teen and wants to prosecute him as an adult, though a judge will have to rule on such a request. The freshman could also face charges for alleged possession or construction of an incendiary device, Hembree said.
Police and detectives were at the school Wednesday to talk with students, Horry County School spokeswoman Teal Britton said.
She said she was not aware of any discipline issues involving the freshman, and urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
"No metal detectors or any other safety plan is as effective as students who have the courage to come forward and warn adults if they are aware of any potential threat, which in effect could result in being a threat to them and their school," she said.
