Teen charged after gun fired in Prince William County high school classroom, police say

Image 1 of 3

Authorities say a 16-year-old boy has been charged after a gun was fired inside a classroom at a high school in Prince William County on Tuesday.

Prince William County Police said the firearm discharged inside an art classroom at Hylton High School in Woodbridge shortly before noon.

Officials say at the time of the discharge, students and a teacher were inside the classroom, but police say there was "initially confusion over what the noise was."

The student involved was removed from the classroom and questioned in the school's main office, according to officials. He initially was uncooperative. Officials say other students who witnessed the incident were also not forthcoming about what happened during initial interviews.

According to officials, class change happened as the 16-year-old was being questioned by police. During that time, the teacher located a trash bin that had damage "consistent with a bullet strike." Bullet fragments were also located in the ceiling during a second check of the room, officials say.

The school was put on lockdown once a shooting was believed to have occurred and as officers searched for the weapon, officials say.

Officials say the firearm was not located until around 5 p.m., which was "found hidden inside an adjacent room connected to the initial classroom where the discharge of the weapon occurred."

A preliminary investigation revealed the 16-year-old was showing the firearm to other students within the classroom when it discharged. The student reported suffering a minor injury during the incident and was treated at the school, according to officials.

Students were dismissed and reunited with their parents at around 5:15 p.m.

The 16-year-old has been charged with possession of a firearm on school property. He is currently being held at the juvenile detention center.