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A 15-year-old student has shot dead a classmate and injured eight others in a school in Argentina, authorities said, in a rare incident of gun violence in the country.
The attack occurred on Monday at Mariano Moreno School in the town of San Cristóbal, in Santa Fe province. The suspect was later arrested, officials confirmed.
A student who witnessed the incident recounted that panic broke out after a boy came out of the bathroom with a firearm and began shooting, prompting students to flee in different directions.
“I went upstairs, and just as I was about to come down, some students saw a boy come out of the bathroom with a gun and started screaming.
“He started shooting into the air and we all ran out,” Priscila, a student at the school, told local broadcaster Radio Con Vos.
According to authorities, six of the injured sustained minor wounds while trying to escape and have since been treated and discharged.
Two others were taken to a regional hospital, with one reported to be in serious but stable condition.
The identities of both the suspect and the victims have not yet been made public.
Officials said the shooting happened as students gathered for the routine morning flag ceremony before classes.
Preliminary reports suggest the weapon used may have been a shotgun.
Following the incident, classes were suspended and students were sent home.
Pablo Cococcioni, provincial justice and security minister, described the attack as deeply tragic and extended condolences to the family of the deceased student.
He noted that the suspect had no prior criminal record and had not previously drawn attention during his time at the school, although he was believed to have been dealing with personal family challenges.
Officials added that the incident did not appear to stem from a conflict within the school, describing it as an unexpected and deeply disturbing event.
While school shootings are rare in Argentina, similar incidents have occurred in the past, including attacks in 2000 and 2004 in Buenos Aires province.
