1 injured, suspect in custody in Florida school shooting

Ocala (Florida) [U.S.A.], Apr. 21 (ANI): A student was injured in a shooting at a Florida high school here on Friday, shortly before students were to stage a walkout as part of a national protest against gun violence.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the 17-year-old student was shot in the ankle.

CNN reported that a suspect, who is not a school student, was already in custody, and the injured student was taken to a nearby hospital.

A school resource officer heard a loud bang at 8:39 a.m. (local time), and three minutes later, an officer took a 19-year-old suspect, who is not a student, into custody, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods told reporters.

The motive for the shooting is however unclear.

Students at about 2,500 schools around Florida were supposed to walk out of their classrooms today as part of the National School Walkout against gun violence.

Forest High too was to participate in the walkout.

However, aerial news footage from the scene showed a sea of students gathering outside a steepled church to meet their parents and officers, clearing the buildings on the Ocala campus.

Meanwhile, several school walkouts were cancelled districtwide in Marion County after the shooting, according to school board member Nancy Stacy.

On February 14, 2018, at least 17 people - children and adults - were killed in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

On March 24, the public, primarily students across the United States also held a "March for Our Lives" rally pressing for stricter gun control measures after the attack. (ANI)