Elementary school in Midlands locked down after shooting in area, officials say
There was a large law enforcement presence outside a South Carolina elementary school Monday afternoon following a shooting in the area, according to Richland 1 officials.
Horrell Hill Elementary School was placed on lockdown after the shooting that took place earlier in the day in the back parking lot on the campus, Richland 1 spokeswoman Karen York said in a news release. The school is at 517 Horrell Hill Road in the Hopkins area of Richland County.
Students and staff at Horrell Elementary are safe and no one at the school was injured, York said. The school was placed on lockdown as a precaution, according to the release.
A Richland County school resource officer’s vehicle was shot multiple times, according to the sheriff’s department.
Most parents were full of confusion. Some were contacted by the school district, others were not, according to State reporters at the scene. Many parents report they have been waiting close to an hour to pick up their children. When asked if she was concerned, a parent of one fifth grader at said, “I’m not happy about it”
At about 1:15 p.m., one man was shot and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department said. Further information on his condition was not available.
The suspected shooter is the man who was hurt, but investigators are trying to determine how those injuries occurred, according to the sheriff’s department.
No other injuries were reported.
There was no word about a motive for the gunfire.
No arrests have been reported.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department told The State that there is “no threat to the community.”
The sheriff’s department is on the scene at the school and is leading an investigation into what it called an isolated incident. Grammar Road was closed following the shooting, according to the sheriff’s department.
As of 2:30 p.m. the school lockdown had been lifted, the sheriff’s department said.
Law enforcement is working with school staff and the district’s Security and Emergency Services team to ensure that students are dismissed safely, York said. Parents have been notified about the situation, according to the release.
Parents of students need to follow school administration directions regarding student pick up, the sheriff’s department said.
Reporters Alexa Jurado and Olivia Sisson contributed to this report. This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 2:36 PM with the headline "Elementary school in Midlands locked down after shooting in area, officials say."
