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School shooting in Ocala, FL; one wounded, suspect in custody

Friday morning in Ocala, Florida, one student was shot at Forest High School. The 19-year-old suspect has been put into custody, and the motives for the shooting are not yet clear — whether this was an attack on that particular student, whether it was meant to be a larger shooting, or some other reason — is all currently speculation as law enforcement continues its investigation. The school is on lockdown as police are securing the area.

An anonymous law enforcement source has told SOFREP that the shooter was an adult, not a student, but had previously attended the school. After the shooting, the perpetrator surrendered himself to a teacher and was subsequently taken into custody. The injury to the student was to the ankle and non-life threatening, though whether or not permanent damage was sustained remains to be seen.

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Friday morning in Ocala, Florida, one student was shot at Forest High School. The 19-year-old suspect has been put into custody, and the motives for the shooting are not yet clear — whether this was an attack on that particular student, whether it was meant to be a larger shooting, or some other reason — is all currently speculation as law enforcement continues its investigation. The school is on lockdown as police are securing the area.

An anonymous law enforcement source has told SOFREP that the shooter was an adult, not a student, but had previously attended the school. After the shooting, the perpetrator surrendered himself to a teacher and was subsequently taken into custody. The injury to the student was to the ankle and non-life threatening, though whether or not permanent damage was sustained remains to be seen.

The identity of the shooter, victim and others involved have not yet been released, and the Ocala P.D. will update soon. SOFREP will keep you posted as new information comes in.

This shooting comes after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, FL, just over a four-hour drive away. 19 years ago today, the Columbine High School massacre happened in Colorado, ending in the deaths of 15 people. School walkouts were planned across the nation on April 20, but the ones in Marion County, FL have reportedly been cancelled due to the Ocala shooting.

Students hug outside a staging area at the First Baptist Church of Ocala as parents arrive to pick them up after a shooting incident at nearby Forest High School, Friday, April 20, 2018, in Ocala, Fla. | AP Photo/John Raoux

Featured image: Parents and relatives gather to pick up students at the First Baptist Church of Ocala after a shooting incident at nearby Forest High School, Friday, April 20, 2018, in Ocala, Fla. | AP Photo/John Raoux

About Luke Ryan View All Posts

Luke Ryan is a SOFREP journalist in Tampa, FL. He is a former Team Leader from 3rd Ranger Battalion, having served four deployments to Afghanistan. He grew up overseas, the son of foreign aid workers, and lived in Pakistan for nine years and Thailand for five. He has a degree in English Literature and loves to write on his own as well, working on several personal projects.

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