Forsyth Tech Shooter Shannon Howard James Pitts Injured in Self-Inflicted Shooting Incident: Shannon Howard James Pitts was arrested by the Winston-Salem Police following a report of shots fired at Forsyth Tech on Thursday morning. Pitts is 18 years old.
According to the Police Shannon Howard James Pitts, an 18-year-old resident of Winston-Salem was found near the restroom in the Strickland Center after a report of shots fired at Forsyth Tech on Thursday morning.
The incident happened while more than 600 high school students were attending a Focus event on campus.
The Winston-Salem Police Department held a press conference at 5 pm where they revealed that gunshots had been fired from a restroom on the second floor of the Strickland Building on the Forsyth Tech campus.
They also reported that a man was found with a gunshot wound and was taken to the hospital.
Self-Inflicted Shooting Injures Forsyth Tech Shooter Shannon Howard James Pitts
On Thursday a student from Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy who was 18 years old was injured when he accidentally shot himself in the hand on the Forsyth Tech Community College campus.
On Twitter, the Winston-Salem Police Department announced that they were investigating a gunshot at the main campus near Miller Street at 10 am.
The Winston-Salem Police Department later confirmed that the wounded individual was an 18-year-old student from Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy who had shot himself in the hand. The police were investigating whether the shooting was accidental or intentional.
Captain Lovejoy stated that according to the preliminary investigation, Mr. Pitts had a firearm on campus which led to what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his hand.
Lovejoy also mentioned that appropriate charges are being considered for Pitts for possessing the firearm on campus.
According to Forsyth County Schools Administrator Tricia McManus, hundreds of high school students were present on the Forsyth Tech campus on Thursday.
Some of the students were on campus for a “Focus Day” to explore post-graduate opportunities while hundreds of others were regular college students.
What Is the Current Whereabouts of Shannon Howard James Pitts?
As per the records released to the public Pitts faces two charges of possessing a firearm on educational grounds and one charge of carrying a concealed pistol.
The police reported that the student received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and was later released from the hospital. A secured bond of $25000 was issued to the student.
Authorities are uncertain whether the student shot himself intentionally or accidentally. The gunshot led to a security concern on campus resulting in a lockdown and evacuation of students and faculty.
Police confirmed that there was no active shooter on campus and no danger to the community or the suspect. During the tense situation, Taylor stated that law enforcement was managing everything in a controlled and safe manner and he along with other students were relocated outside directly behind the police lines.
According to Tricia McManus the superintendent of Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools, the event will have an impact on the children long after they return from spring break.
McManus said that when the students come back to school on April 11th there will be teams at every school. Today students from 10 different schools came here.
She also said that there will be counselors and social workers available to help students deal with the event’s effects.
Forsyth Tech President Janet Spriggs describes today as a difficult day but the college community came together and supported each other in a Trailblazer spirit following the prepared plans.
