TEEN ACCUSED IN DAD’S DEATH, SCHOOL ATTACK

Teacher and 2 children hurt in shooting

A teenager is accused of fatally shooting his father before heading to a nearby elementary school and wounding two children and a teacher Wednesday afternoon.

Jeffrey Osborne, 47, was found dead in his home. The alleged shooter was home- schooled, and authorities didn’t know of any relation between the Townville Elementary School victims and the shooter.

Deputy Police Chief Keith Smith said the shooter never entered the elementary school but was on its playground when the children and teacher were attacked. One of the students was shot in the leg and the other in the foot, Capt. Garland Major with the Anderson County Sher- iff’s Office said. Both students were male. The female teacher was hit in the shoulder. One of the children and the teacher were released from the hospital. Taylor Jones, Anderson County’s emergency services director, said both children were taken away from the school in medical helicopters.

One suspect was in custody, according to Lt. Sheila Cole of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Jones said the person in custody was believed to be a teen.

A SWAT team went through the school and did not find any other signs of danger, Jones said.

“We are heartbroken about this senseless act of violence,” said Joanne Avery, superintendent of Anderson County School District 4. She canceled classes for the rest of the week.

KIRK BROWN, ANDERSON ( S. C.) INDEPENDENT MAIL Townville Elementary students, evacuated from their school, leave a bus that took them to a nearby church. A shooter opened fire in the school’s playground.