MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A feud between two high school students that began off campus culminated at a gym class Monday when one student shot the other twice, then handed the gun to a coach, saying, “It’s over now,” authorities said.
The victim, a 19-year-old senior, was in critical condition at a hospital, authorities said. The suspected shooter, 17-year-old sophomore Corneilous Cheers, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, reckless endangerment and carrying a gun on school property, said police spokeswoman Monique Martin.
The teenagers got into a confrontation off campus either over the weekend or last week, police said. Investigators were trying to determine whether it was related to gang activity, Martin said.
A detention hearing was scheduled for today in juvenile court for Cheers, who did not yet have a lawyer.
The shooting erupted in a morning gym class being held in the cafeteria at the 1,050-student Mitchell High School. About 75 students were in the class, but no one besides the senior was hurt.
The gunman gave no warning, principal John Ware said.
“He walked up to him, shot him and made a statement to the coach that ‘it’s over now,’ ” Ware said. “He did not run.”
Memphis high schools have access to metal detectors, but they are not used each day.
