Fire Chief Describes How Hero Firefighter Took Down Suspected Gunman in SC Elementary School Shooting
— -- The fire chief of Townville Volunteer Fire Department in Townville, South Carolina, described to ABC News today how a veteran volunteer firefighter heroically took down the suspected teen gunman who opened fire at Townville Elementary School's playground during recess on Wednesday.
Fire Chief Billy McAdams said he was in his personal vehicle with 30-year veteran firefighter Jamie Brock when they heard the call about shots fired at the school. The chief was especially concerned because he had a son at the school, he said.
After arriving at the scene, the two split up, McAdams told ABC News today. Brock went off to look for the shooter despite being unarmed, while McAdams tended to a seriously wounded child.
Brock was able to tackle the 14-year-old suspected shooter, who was armed with a handgun, McAdams said. Meanwhile, the fire chief said he had been applying a tourniquet to stop the bleeding in the wounded child's leg.
The suspected teen gunman was taken into custody with incident at the school, officials said at a news conference on Wednesday. A county EMS official noted that Brock wanted to remain humble and quiet.
It was not immediately clear how the suspected teen shooter got into the school on Wednesday, according to officials. They did note, however, that all schools in the district have undergone active shooter training.
Three people were injured in the shooting -- including a student shot in the leg, another student shot in the foot and a teacher shot in the shoulder -- officials said.
The suspect, who officials did not identify by name, was described at the news conference as the son of 47-year-old Jeffery Dewitt Osborne, who was found dead in his home on the same day of the shooting.
Authorities said that the suspected teen shooter's grandparents received a phone call from the teen early afternoon. The shooter was crying and upset, according to the grandparents, who then went to the home of their son, Jeffery Dewitt Osborne. The grandparents found the teen's father dead and called 911.
An autopsy is expected to be conducted on Osborne today, according to officials.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley asked on Wednesday "that everyone across South Carolina join" her and her husband, Michael Haley, "in praying for the entire Townville Elementary School family and those touched by today's tragedy" as "we work together with law enforcement to make sure they have the support they need to investigate what happened."
The family of the suspected teen shooter said in a statement today that they "were absolutely shocked and saddened by the senseless actions of our son."
They added that they were praying for "the two precious children who were wounded" and for "their courageous teacher."
ABC News' Michael DelMoro, Chris Donato, Anne Emerson, Joshua Hoyos, Julia Jacobo, Scottye Kennedy and Jason Volack contributed to this report.
