Students wear ties to honor teacher who shot self in classroom

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — Students are back at a Douglas County High School the day after a teacher shot himself in his classroom.

Classes resumed Friday morning at Lithia Springs High School, and grief counselors were on campus to help students talk over what happened.

None of the students witnessed the shooting that took place around 7:15 a.m. Thursday before school started. The teacher was rushed to the hospital. Officials said he was stable.

Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach reported dozens of students were wearing ties on Friday as a sign of respect for the teacher.

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Several people are still waiting for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to release the teacher's name and more details on his condition. Investigators are also working to determine if he tried to take his own life.

According to the sheriff’s office, the teacher took a handgun into his classroom and shot himself. Then the man contacted a coworker who found him wounded and called 911.

One parent told Channel 2 Action News that students returning are now supporting their math teacher.

“That’s like his signature,” parent Glynnis Marrion told Gehlbach. "Basically his signature (is) to wear those ties, so they just want to feel like they’re still standing with him. So, I’m grateful, I’m moved by that. Hopefully he hears that and it’ll help him to feel better.”

The math teacher taught in Douglas County for 18 years and has a wife and young daughter.

Students told Gehlbach that "he was an amazing teacher overall (and) came to school with a great smile."

Cox Media Group