OfficerBlueOcala, FL – On Friday, a gunman put a shotgun in a guitar case and carried it into the school while blending in with students. Shortly after opening fire, Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy James Long had the shooter in custody.
The shooting occurred at around 8:39 a.m. at Forest High School in Ocala, according to CBS News.
19-year-old Sky Bouche, a former student, carried his his sawed-off shotgun, tactical vest, and gloves inside of the school. After he was inside, he went into a bathroom and put on all of his gear, according to The Washington Post.
Equipped and ready to start his killing spree, Bouche approached a classroom and encountered a locked door. He fired a shot through the classroom door and hit a 17-year-old student in his ankle.
Bouche then dropped his weapon and fled, trying to blend in as the school announced a “code red” alert and went into lockdown.
Students and teachers locked the doors and started throwing file cabinets and desks against the doors in an attempt to barricade them.
One student described that they started tying jackets together so that they could climb out of the windows, according to CBS News.
Teacher Kelly McManis-Panasuk then saw Bouche in the hallway and asked him if he shot a gun, and he told her that he did. School Resource Officer, Deputy James Long, was already rushing toward the shooting, and McManis-Panasuk engaged the shooter in conversation until he arrived.
He told McManis-Panasuk that he was mentally ill and wanted to be arrested.
According to Fox News, he “said he had been abused by his family his whole life, and he was done.” He was taken into custody without further incident.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said that Deputy Long didn’t hesitate.
“He went right in,” the sheriff told reporters.
Video was captured of deputies clearing the school.
McManis-Panasuk was forgiving of Bouche smuggling a tactical vest and shotgun into school and shooting a student.
“He wanted to be arrested,” McManis-Panasuk said, according to The Washington Post. “I really don’t think he meant to shoot the gun. I think it really was an accident. He just wanted someone to listen to him.”
Bouche had previously been committed for a mental health evaluation when he was 14 years old. He purchased his shotgun in a private sale with no background check just after the Parkland school shooting, according to Ocala Star Banner.
Bouche made his first court appearance on Saturday and was charged with terrorism, aggravated assault with a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm, culpable negligence, possession of a firearm on school property, possession of a short-barrelled shotgun, interference in school property, and armed trespass on school property, according to Ocala Star Banner.
He is being held without bond.