Georgia High School Shut Down After Student Shot in Bathroom Fight

A high school in Warner Robins, Georgia, will remain closed for the rest of the week after a student was shot inside a campus bathroom Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

The Houston County Sheriff's Office said the shooting occurred around 2:15 p.m. at Warner Robins High School. One student was injured and taken to a local hospital for treatment. The sheriff's office initially reported two people injured but later clarified that only one person was hurt.

Sheriff Matt Moulton told reporters that investigators believe two ninth-grade students got into an argument that escalated, and one of them pulled out a gun and shot the other. The 14-year-old suspect fled the school on foot and was later apprehended in a nearby neighborhood.

"Fortunately, what could have been a much worse incident was minimized to us only having one student injured," Moulton said.

Authorities have not said how the teen obtained the firearm, who it may be registered to, or what charges he could face.

School officials said Warner Robins High School will be closed to all students for the rest of the week, and staff will not report Thursday. A crisis team will be on campus Friday and Monday to support students and staff.

Warner Robins is in central Georgia, about 100 miles south of Atlanta.

Local and state officials responded to the shooting. Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda W. Patrick said on Facebook that the incident "impacts our students, faculty, and parents, but also our entire community," and thanked police and fire crews for their rapid response.

Gov. Brian Kemp said on X that first responders' quick action "brought the situation under control and kept students, faculty, and staff safe." Sen. Raphael Warnock said he was following the reports closely and that his prayers were with the injured student, adding he was "grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders on the scene."