Lecanto, Florida -- Investigators are still searching for a motive in a shooting at Lecanto High School, after a 15-year-old freshman pulled a gun in front of about two dozen students and shot himself Tuesday morning.
At about 10:30 a.m., officials put Lecanto High on full lockdown. Most students say they were unaware that inside a freshman English class, a student had just put a semi-automatic 9mm handgun to his head and pulled the trigger.
WTSP 10 News has since learned the teen's name, but out of respect for family members, we are not publishing it at this time.
"He said that he wanted to go out to his car. That's what I heard," said ninth-grader Brent Rowe, "And he got a parent a gun apparently that's what someone said."
The teacher and students in the class at the time of the shooting were all interviewed by investigators, and all of them have been offered counseling.
The campus' four school resource officers were on the scene in about a minute, say officials, and were able to speak with the young gunman before he was airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa.
"We were able, actually, to talk to the shooter," said Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy, "to make sure that it was an isolated incident. Only one individual involved in the shooting. He did confirm that."
There are no metal detectors at Lecanto High. But the sheriff said in the 20 years that he's been here, they haven't needed them. This was the first incident of its kind that he could recall. And frankly, he said, it could've been a lot worse.
Citing an ongoing investigation, Dawsy also declined to release the student's name, but a family friend described the teen as happy, from a loving family, and showing no signs of bullying or aggression.
"He's just a really good kid is all I know. I don't know where he would've gotten a weapon, I mean .... just shocked," said Jimmy Ritrovato, an adult family friend.
There are no classes Wednesday because schools are closed to observe Veterans Day.
But Superintendent Sandra "Sam" Himmel says counselors will be on campus Wednesday, "and we will continue that counselors for our staff and students through the end of the week."
Investigators say they are going through the teen's cell phone and social media accounts looking for clues or a motive.
The sheriff's office participates in active shooter training, and it was instrumental, they say, in responding to Tuesday's incident on campus.
But many parents were critical of the way they were treated by law enforcement when they tried to reach campus and pick up their children.
"Don't tell me to calm down, you be in my shoes," said Misty Fields, crying into her cell phone.
Fields was pleading with officials to let her pick up her son at Lecanto Middle School which is located on the same campus as Lecanto High. The elementary school is there as well.
"No, you listen. You listen. OK? I'm very upset," Fields told the woman on the other end of the line, "My son, I've been told to come get him, and when I get here and you people don't want to help me?"
As part of its training, the sheriff's office had never faced the real-life response from frantic parents.
Holly Fischofer pointed a finger.
"That cop right over there," she said, "Would not explain it to me. Won't let me get my kids. There's a gun in the school, that's all I know. And my child is in there. And they won't let me in."
Officials say in an age of social media, parents get more information faster. Too fast, in this case, for them to accommodate while still responding to the initial threat.
"It was the most unorganized thing I have ever experienced," said parent Jessica Jahn.
But Dawsy, not making an apology, says he has his priorities.
"To the parents that are listening to me, they were my priority. But their children were my responsibility. And I don't take that lightly," said the sheriff.
Part of the frustration in this case may have been the fact that the elementary school, middle school and high school are all located on the same campus-like property, so they were all shut down - leaving three schools' worth parents all trying to get into same area at the same time.
For now, the sheriff says he does not intend to file charges against the teen.
"This is an individual that is a great despair. At the age of 15, I don't understand how you can become this depressed, but it's not uncommon," said Dawsy, "So, I think us as a community, we need to figure out how to reach out to this person."
Shortly after the shooting, a phone message was sent out to parents from Himmel:
Approximately 10:30 this morning, the Citrus County School District received a call that there was a self- inflicted gunshot by a student at Lecanto High School. The Sheriff's Office responded immediately and appropriate administrative district staff responded to LHS. An immediate full lockdown of all schools at the Lecanto complex occurred until the sheriff's office determined there was no further danger to any students or staff. This was an isolated incident and there are no students or staff in danger at this time. The sheriff's office is conducting it's investigation and information will be released as it becomes available. Until the sheriff's office has completed a full safety inspection of the Lecanto complex, no students will be released. Thank you for your cooperation
With respect to our 10 News Crime Coverage Guidelines, we will not cover suicides unless they are unusual in nature, involve a public figure, or occur in a public place. Since this took place in a school, we will continue to update you with respect to our coverage guidelines.
Read more: 10 News Crime Guidelines
Below you can read what students and authorities were tweeting about regarding the situation as it unfolded: (Mobile app users, this story is best viewed in a browser)
