WARNER ROBINS — A confrontation between two ninth-graders inside a bathroom at Warner Robins High School escalated into gunfire Wednesday afternoon, leaving one student injured and prompting a large law enforcement response, Houston County officials said.
Immediate response and arrest
Houston County Sheriff Matt Moulton said the shooting occurred at about 2:15 p.m. on Aug. 12, one week into the new school year. A school resource officer was on the scene within seconds, applied tourniquets to the injured student and remained until emergency medical personnel arrived. The injured student was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
“The school threat protocol and our training was followed perfectly today,” Moulton said. “Fortunately what could have been a much-worse incident was minimized to us only having one student injured.”
After the shooting, the suspect fled the campus but was located about a half-mile (roughly 800 meters) away in a nearby neighborhood and taken into custody “without further incident,” Moulton said at a news conference. Officials identified the suspect as a 14-year-old ninth grader.
School operations and support
Houston County Schools Superintendent Richard Rogers said Warner Robins High School would be closed to students Thursday and Friday; staff were scheduled to report Thursday. The district said crisis counselors would be available to support students and staff as the community processes the event.
The shooting drew dozens of law enforcement officers to the school, located about 102 miles southeast of Atlanta. Moulton declined to take questions at the news conference, citing an active investigation. He did not specify the type of injuries the wounded student sustained, and officials did not say whether the school uses metal detectors.
Timeline
| Time (local) | Event |
|---|---|
| ~2:15 p.m. | Altercation in bathroom escalates to gunfire; one student shot |
| Minutes later | School resource officer arrives, applies tourniquets |
| Shortly after | Injured student taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries |
| ~1 hour later | Suspect apprehended about half-mile from campus |
What officials said and what is next
Moulton described the incident as one the county trains for every year and praised the response of school personnel and law enforcement. The sheriff would not answer further questions publicly because the case remains under investigation.
Superintendent Rogers affirmed the district’s decision to close the school for students at least through Friday and to provide crisis counseling. Details on any disciplinary or criminal charges against the teenager were not released by authorities in the initial statement.
Local context and safety measures
The shooting underscores continuing concerns about student safety in schools statewide. Local law enforcement and school districts routinely review protocols for active threats, lockdowns and rapid medical response. In this incident, the presence of a school resource officer who rendered immediate aid was a critical factor in limiting further harm, according to officials.
- One injured student — treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries
- Suspect in custody — 14-year-old ninth grader arrested about half-mile from school
- School closed — Warner Robins High closed to students Thursday and Friday; staff scheduled Thursday
Authorities did not release additional details about the weapon, the identities of those involved, or any potential motive. The Houston County Sheriff’s Office and school officials said they will continue to investigate and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Community members seeking information or support were directed to the school district for guidance on counseling services and updates about reopening plans.
This article will be updated as officials release new information.
