Smiths Station High School Athletic Trainer shields student from shooting another in gym building
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An athletic trainer is being hailed a hero after shielding a student from an armed student after basketball practice at Smiths Station High School.
The incident occurred last night, on November 2, 2023, at approximately 5:41 PM, whenLee County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Smiths Station High School located in the 4000 block of Lee Rd. 430 in the city of Smiths Station in reference to a subject at the school gym with a firearm.
“Witnesses reported the armed suspect was leaving in a white KIA automobile and responding deputies observed and stopped the vehicle as it was attempting to leave the school campus,” Lee County Sheriff’s Office said,
A 16-year-old male occupant of the vehicle was identified as the reportedly armed subject.
“It was determined that the male, a student at the school, had been in an altercation earlier with another student. Evidence indicated that after the initial confrontation with another student, the suspect at some point obtained a handgun from his vehicle and while armed, entered the gym building on campus, threatening to kill the other student,” the sheriff’s office added.
An adult female trainer working with the school’s athletics program stepped in front of the suspect, shielding the student who was being threatened and told the suspect to leave.
“The trainer stated that the suspect was saying that he was going to kill the other student as he was pointing the gun in her face,” they added.
The suspect then left the building. Sheriff’s Investigators recovered a 9mm semi-automatic handgun from the suspect’s vehicle at the scene.
“The criminal law statutes in Alabama provide that persons 16 years of age are subject to being treated as an adult in certain circumstances where they are engaged in a criminal act and armed with a deadly weapon,” a press release from authorities added.
The 16 year old juvenile was arrested at the scene and is being charged as an adult for:
1 count of Terrorist Threats 1st Degree
1 count of Burglary 2nd Degree
1 count of Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess Firearm
1 count of Menacing
He is being held in the Lee County jail on a $25,500.00.
Anyone with any information about the case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crimestoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
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