A 12-year-old boy is in custody after fatal shooting of another 12-year-old boy at South Carolina middle school, authorities say

• Jamari Cortez Bonaparte Jackson, 12, was shot to death at a South Carolina middle school Thursday.
• Another 12-year-old male student at the school was arrested in connection to Jackson's death.

A 12-year-old boy was killed and his 12-year-old classmate is in custody following a shooting at a South Carolina middle school on Thursday, the local sheriff's office said in a Facebook post.

The victim of the shooting at Tanglewood Middle School in Greenville has been identified as Jamari Cortez Bonaparte Jackson, a community activist told WYFF.

"We are all devastated by today's tragedy," the family said in a statement issued through activist Bruce Wilson, according to WYFF. "We love Jamari dearly and we would ask that our privacy be respected as we grieve during this very difficult time."

A public information officer for the Greenville Sheriff's Office did not immediately provide the shooting suspect's name to Insider on Friday.

According to a Thursday press release from the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, the shooting suspect was arrested on suspicion of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession of a firearm on school property, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a person under the age of 18.

The sheriff's office said Thursday that the boy would be transported to a juvenile detention center in Columbia.

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According to the sheriff's office, a school resource officer (SRO) called for backup at 12:23 p.m. on Thursday after hearing shots fired.

"We soon learned that the gunfire was from a 12-year-old student who shot another 12-year-old student inside the 700 wing of the school," the press release said. "The victim was shot at least one time and was quickly tended to by the SRO and staff before being transported to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased."

Officers responding to the school then initiated a search for the shooter, and eventually learned that he was at a residence approximately 2.5 miles northeast of the school.

When deputies arrived at the house, they found the suspect "hiding under a deck," the sheriff's office said. The suspect was taken into custody, and officers recovered a handgun, according to the press release.

"While the motive for the shooting and how the suspect was able to get possession of a firearm is still under investigation, we can confirm that the victim and suspect were familiar with each other and we are confident the incident was isolated. No other students were injured in the incident," the press release said.

Greenville Sheriff Hobart Lewis issued a statement, which read in part: "My heart breaks for this young boy's family and my prayers are with them tonight. Additionally, I will be praying for the other young boy who pulled the trigger and his family. I can not fathom what would cause someone to do this to another human being and especially at that age, but I know it's a situation where we all need to turn to God."