‘Enough is enough.’ Leaders call for metal detectors after Tanglewood Middle shooting

In the wake of a fatal shooting of a 12-year-old at school, a group of ministers and community activists called on Greenville County Schools Friday to install metal detectors.

The Rev. U.A. Thompson said at a news conference, “This is essential for the safety and protection of our precious lives.”

Shortly after noon on Thursday Jamari Cortez Bonaparte Jackson, 12, was shot in a hallway at Tanglewood Middle School and died a few hours later at a Greenville hospital.

A 12-year-old male student was arrested and charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession of a firearm on school property and unlawful possession of a weapon by a person under the age of 18.

Community activist Traci Fant said she has tried to get metal detectors in schools for years but was met with resistance every time. She said she was told the schools are too pretty, detectors scare children and it makes schools look violent.

Fant said her granddaughter was a few steps ahead of where the shooting took place and turned around to see the student on the floor.

“Enough is enough,” Fant said.

Tim Waller, a spokesman for Greenville County Schools, said the district has looked into using metal detectors and will again after Thursday’s shooting. Previously, district officials say they have decided against it because the machines are not foolproof.

He said TSA picks up about 80 percent of the guns people carry into airports.

Waller said he does not believe a metal detector would have prevented the shooting at Tanglewood.

Among the reasons district personnel have decided against metal detectors is the crush of students waiting to get into the school. He said if someone had a school shooting plan that scene would make for an easy target.

Waller said the district regularly reviews safety measures, including one recently from a vendor selling a device that does not require people to walk through a detector. The district owns wands that can be used with individuals.

The most effective way to prevent shootings is for students to “see something, say something,” Waller said.

Fant said during the press conference, “It’s time to stop relaying on children to tell on each other.”

This story was originally published April 1, 2022 at 12:17 PM.