Child injured in accidental shooting at Newton Elementary School
A student was injured in an accidental shooting at Newton Elementary School on Thursday, according to Newton Police Chief Randy Patrick.
The shooting was not an active shooter incident, and the school was placed on lockdown as a safety measure, Patrick said.
Newton County Sheriff Joedy Pennington, whose department provided assistance to the city police in the case, said the child was flown to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. The child is expected to recover after having surgery, Patrick said Friday.
Newton Municipal School District Superintendent Glenda Nickson said in a statement that a student brought a firearm to the school. Nickson said the gun discharged and wounded another student.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the students and parents of Newton Elementary School as well as all NMSD students, their families, faculty, and staff,” Nickson said in an email.