This week proved devastating for the small, rural community of Townville, South Carolina. What started as a normal school day ended as one of unsurmountable fear and grieving for everyone involved in the Townville Elementary School shooting.

An unnamed 14-year old teenager started his spree by fatally shooting his father in their home, although his motive is unclear. Surprisingly, the teen called his grandparents after shooting his father. Not being able to comprehend his incoherent blubbering, the grandparents rushed over, only to find their grandson gone and his father, 47-year old Jeffery Osborne, dead.

The teen then somehow obtained a vehicle and drove to the elementary school, where he shot two students and one teacher outside of the school, though none of the shots were fatal. The suspect was taken into custody around 2 PM by the local police department, and two of the injured victims were carted off to the AnMed Medical Center, where they were released within two hours. One student shot in the leg, Jacob Hall, was in critical condition and taken to a different hospital.

The quick responding police department prevented further tragedy and the remaining students were bused to a nearby church, where parents were desperately awaiting to see their children climb off safely. This act of needless violence impacts and sparks fear in not only the city of Townville, but the entire nation.