Teen arrested in Social Circle shooting

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - An apparent confession inside a high school classroom leads to the arrest of a 16-year-old student.

The boy is now facing multiple felonies after he was arrested at Social Circle High School Tuesday morning hours after the shooting which left one young man hospitalized.

Wednesday night when FOX 5 News stopped by the home in unincorporated Social Circle where the shooting occurred things were quiet.

But the neighbor who didn’t want his face shown says it was chaos late Monday night when the shooting started.

“He came in and started shooting and when he did all the other kids started running,” He said.

Social Circle Police told FOX 5 News a 19-year-old young man was struck by gunfire.

And that he, fearing for his life, either drove himself or was driven to a nearby Marathon gas station in neighboring Newton County where he was transported to the hospital by ambulance

“Upon arrival, we were quickly met by Newton County Sheriff Deputies, and we located the victim who had a gunshot wound,” said Social Circle Police Chief Tyrone Oliver.

He said after the shooting the 16-year-old returned home and came to his assigned classroom at Social Circle High School Tuesday morning earlier than usual

Chief Oliver said the teen was arrested in the classroom after apparently telling his teacher-coach what had happened the night before.

“He was in that classroom alone with the coach at the time he was taken into custody. He was sitting in his assigned area at his desk and there was no other students and no one else in the classroom,” said Chief Oliver.

The student Is now facing multiple charges for the incident including assault, pointing a gun at another and theft by taking.

Since a juvenile is involved his name is not being released and further details are scant but the police Chief says two families have been affected.

“A victim who sustained a life-threatening injury potentially and then you have a 16-year-old male who suspected of committing these acts and he’s gotta face the consequences on that,” said Chief Oliver.

He said the 16-year-old is being held in juvenile detention and investigators from Social Circle Police, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office and School Resource Police Officers from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office are all working on the case.

Chief Oliver told FOX 5 News the young man who was shot is expected to be OK.

He said the motive for the shooting is unclear. The neighbor near where the shooting occurred said he believes it was over a breakup involving the 16-year-old shooter and a girl who lives at the house.