Frederick Douglass High Staffer Hospitalized After Confronting Armed Suspect At The School's Entrance
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A Frederick Douglass staff member was hospitalized Friday night after being shot at the high school.
It was chaotic outside Frederic Douglass High School after shots were fired in the school's lobby.
Police said that a 25-year-old man tried to enter the school around noon but encountered 56-year-old Michael Marks, a special education assistant.
That's when officers said the suspect pulled out a gun and shot marks in the lower torso.
The suspect was quickly taken into custody.
Robert Ames, a friend of the special ed. Assistant, said that he rushed to the hospital to visit Marks.
"I was shocked," he said. "I couldn't believe it. I've known this guy forever."
Students were on lockdown for about an hour before being dismissed around 1:15 p.m.
City Schools said that the suspect is a family member of a Frederick Douglass student.
President of the School Police Union, Clyde Boatwright, said that coincidentally, there was a conference with Police School supervisors in the school who heard the shots and made a rapid arrest.
Last month, the school board voted against arming school police officers.
Boatwright said that the shooting proves his point: That city school officers need to be armed.
"If they were not here and our unarmed police office had to confront his gunman, what would we of had?" asked Boatwright. "We would have had more casualties."
City Schools CEO Sonja Santelises said that Marks had "served Baltimore students for many years, and I ask you all as part of our City Schools community to hold him and his family in your hearts."
She also went on to say that schools must be havens of safety and peace without weapons and confrontation and that they would review all security protocols.
"He's always been a friend to everybody," said Ames. "but he's always been about the kids. He's always helping kids."
Mayor Catherine Pugh tweeted out that gun violence is unacceptable in schools and also said that they'll be conducting a full assessment to make sure this doesn't happen again.
Statement on shooting at Frederick Douglass High School. pic.twitter.com/MSwHGTEbjZ
— Mayor Catherine Pugh (@MayorPugh50) February 9, 2019
Police have said this is an active investigation.
Mayor Catherine Pugh tweeted out that gun violence is unacceptable in schools and also said that they'll be conducting a full assessment to make sure this doesn't happen again.
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