Students at Perry Hall High School return for classes the day after a shooting.
Perry Hall High School students are back at school not even 24 hours after a shooting in the Maryland school’s cafeteria. A 15 year-old student opened fire on the first day of classes this past Monday, wounding fellow 17 year-old student Daniel Borowy. Shooter, Robert Wayne Gladden, Jr., apparently pulled the gun in the cafeteria, getting off one shot before teachers grabbed him and then another shot as the teachers reached him. The victim, a special education student, was flown to the University of Maryland’s Shock Trauma Center, where he is still in serious condition.
The 17 year-old is not thought to have been targeted by the shooter, also a student at Perry Hall High School, said Baltimore County Police Chief James Johnson at a news conference. Gladden is being charged with attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault.
Students at Perry Hall High School and community members gathered Tuesday morning before classes to link hands and pray for Borowy in wake of the tragic event. Perry Hall’s Principal Deborah Bittner has called the tragedy a “reminder of vigilance.” County and school officials have praised the teacher involved in the incident for their courageous actions and reiterated that safety is a number one priority for students and staff.
“Gun violence has no place anywhere, least of all in our nation’s schools,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in reference to the Perry Hall High School shooting. “I’d like to thank the local educators and law enforcement personnel who took action to help prevent additional students from getting hurt.”
