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Police: Teen kills self in high school gym
By Garry Mitchell
Associated Press
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MOBILE, Ala. -- A student recently charged in a robbery fired a gun into the ceiling of his high school gym and then killed himself in front of about 150 classmates, police said.

Jajuan Holmes, 18, fatally shot himself about 10 a.m. at Davidson High School, police Chief Phillip Garrett said. He described the shooting as an isolated incident and said no one else was injured.

Holmes was charged a few weeks ago in a Dairy Queen robbery, which may have been a factor leading to the shooting, Garrett said. But he said the teen's death remained under investigation.

He said there had been no indication that Holmes might be suicidal.

Chelsea Smith, a senior, said she was seated in the gym bleachers when Holmes appeared at the top of the bleachers and walked down to the center of the gym court.

"He had a gun to his head," she said.

Smith said a coach walked toward Holmes, who pointed the gun at the coach until the coach retreated. She said Holmes then fired into the ceiling and shot himself.

Grief counselors were sent to the school, said Nancy Pierce, a spokeswoman for the Mobile County school system. She said classes would resume Friday.

Traffic was heavy outside the school around noon as concerned parents arrived. Police were directing traffic and the departure of students was orderly.

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Reader comments on this story - 5 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Gov't oppressed Mule wrote on Mar 7, 2008 10:02 AM:

" Now this is a school shooter the media should latch onto. In cases like NIU all you hear about is the shooter, what he was going through etc... While suicide is NEVER the answer at least this kid was "kind enough" (?) not to attempt to take others with him. This is a very tragic event, but it could have been A LOT worse. RIP Jajuan. "

cats55ire wrote on Mar 6, 2008 5:02 PM:

" Another one . . .

at least no other students/teachers were hurt!

"

420 wrote on Mar 6, 2008 4:31 PM:

" This world and all whom are inhabiting it have all gone mad. "

lulz wrote on Mar 6, 2008 4:00 PM:

" While still bad, at least it wasn't like the other shooting situations that have happened recently and no one else was hurt. "

Modulation wrote on Mar 6, 2008 3:45 PM:

" A lets see he was arrested for robery which requires a gun but he still has access to a gun to kill himself. Wonderful world we live in where this can happen. I think we should have a car in every garage, a chicken in every pot and atleast one gun per family member so that we can correct all the worlds problems with a single shot. Typical of those who live by the gun and die by the gun, to hell with everyone else. At least he did not take anyone else with him. "
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