Teacher Stable, Students Return After Classroom Shooting

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — A Lithia Springs High School teacher was in stable condition Friday morning, as students returned to classes a day after that teacher shot himself in his office at the school.

In a social media post, Douglas County Schools said the teacher, who has not been publicly identified, was at a hospital in stable condition. It remained unclear Friday whether the shooting was intentional or accidental, although sheriff's deputies say he reached out to another teacher after the shooting and that his colleagues were able to call 911 and get him help.

"The school system appreciates the thoughts and prayers of the community during this difficult time," the statement reads. "We commend the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for the professional way their officers responded to the situation."

After school was canceled at Lithia Springs on Thursday, students were back on a regular schedule Friday morning. Grief counselors were on campus and available to students and faculty and some students reportedly wore ties to school in honor of the teacher — who has worked at the school for 18 years.

According to Douglas County School System spokesman Nell Boggs, the teacher suffered a self-inflicted gunshot woundat 7:15 a.m. in the office of his classroom. No students were in the area at the time, Boggs said.

Law enforcement officers said the teacher left the area where the shooting happened and reached out to another teacher for help.

"He was able to make contact with another teacher who called 911 on his behalf to get medical attention to him," Douglas County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Jesse Hambrick said at a Thursday news conference.

Officials say no students were in the area of the shooting, which happened well before classes began Thursday. As they arrived on campus, they were rerouted to the school's gymnasium and then sent home for the day.

The sheriff's office had not said Friday morning whether criminal charges are possible in the case. It is illegal, except under very specific circumstances, to have a firearm on a school campus in Georgia.

This is a developing story. Patch will update this story with more details as they become available.

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Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone