The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

A SECURITY guard is fighting for his life in hospital after he was shot multiple times by a gunman dressed in a school uniform yesterday afternoon.

The shooting took place at L W Young Junior High School on Bernard Road around midday.

According to officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit, Chief Supt Paul Rolle, the school security officer was sitting in his booth when two men in a white Honda attempted to enter the school’s campus.

“The guard approached the vehicle to check out who was inside when one of the men produced a handgun and shot him multiple times before the vehicle sped off,” Chief Supt Rolle said.

“The victim managed to run to one of the administrative buildings where he was assisted by staff and taken to the hospital in a private vehicle.”

The Tribune understands the victim is a guard by the name of Caleb Cooper.

Chief Supt Rolle said while the gunman appeared to be dressed in a C I Gibson school uniform, police cannot confirm if he was actually a student. He also said police believe Mr Cooper was the intended target.

No one else was hurt during the shooting.

The school was immediately put on lock down before classes were dismissed early for the rest of day.

In a statement, Education Director Lionel Sands said despite the “unfortunate incident” student safety remains the Ministry of Education’s top priority.

“A security officer at the L W Young Junior High School was shot to the upper body and thigh around 12.30 this afternoon,” the statement said. “The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology can confirm that the assailant was not on the campus, however, shots were fired from outside the school gate, striking the officer.

“As a result of the school being secured, the assailants did not have access to the campus and we commend the work of the officers for properly securing the campus, preventing further casualties. The school was quickly placed on lock-down as senior education officials and police began the preliminary investigations. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology wishes to remind parents, students and the community that student safety is always a top priority and during today’s unfortunate incident no students were harmed.”

Police do not have a motive for the shooting at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.