Rounding out last week’s trio of school shootings, we have the shooting that took place this past Friday at Magruder High School in Derwood, Maryland.
Shortly before 1pm local time, a student was found with gunshot wounds inside one of the school’s bathrooms. The victim is a 15-year-old student of the school. The school went into lockdown and police worked to secure the building.
Police found the alleged shooter, 17-year-old Steven Alston Jr., in a classroom and arrested him. The gun used in the shooting was said to be found nearby. We’ll get to more on the gun in a bit. As of this past Saturday, the victim was said to be in critical condition.
Police have said that this was a targeted attack, but have not commented on what led up to it.
Alston has been charged as an adult and is being held without bond. He’s been charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony or violent crime, possession of a dangerous weapon on school property, and possession of a firearm by a minor.
The gun used in the shooting was said to be a ghost gun. That means the gun was assembled from parts that can be obtained through the mail, and they don’t have serial numbers. Since gun parts aren’t classified as firearms, dealers don’t have to perform background checks on their customers. This is currently legal in Maryland and many other states, but Maryland is currently considering legislation banning ghost guns. So far, there has been no word on if Alston assembled the gun himself or got it from someone else. This is far from the first school shooting where a ghost gun was used.
The idea of a ghost gun should be abhorrent to most rational people, especially when one ends up in the hands of a 17-year-old high school student. Sadly, too many people think this is their God-given right to obtain a firearm, even if they’re banned by law from owning one. Meanwhile, the supposed scions of the 2nd Amendment known as gun dealers willingly overlook state and federal regulations that are supposed to keep guns out of the hands of children.
(Sources)
- Magruder High student shot inside bathroom, suspect found by police inside school
- Magruder High School student shot; suspect in custody, police say
- Police: Student shot at Montgomery County school, suspect in custody
- Maryland school shooting: Teen faces attempted murder charge
- Magruder student shaken by indelible memory of school shooting
- Teen Charged With Attempted Murder in Shooting of Magruder High Student: Police
- Montgomery County high school student being held without bond following school shooting
Real Crime with Trench Reynolds 