A 16-year-old old Georgia boy who was shot in the head by a fellow student during an argument is currently on life support, his mother said.
Lawrenceville Police said the Tuesday shooting happened while Timothy Barnes Jr. was walking to a bus stop, FOX 5 reported. The suspect, identified as 17-year-old Serar Abdi, allegedly had a misunderstanding with Timothy prior to shooting him.
“Please just stay close to your kids. That’s all I can say,” Timothy’s mother, LaToya Nicholson, said. “That’s my child. I don’t know what happened or why he did it.”
Lawrenceville Police Department Lt. J. O. Parker also told CNN Timothy and the suspect had “some sort of disagreement in the past.” “They know each other from school and had some sort of conflict recently,” Parker added.
Barnes was found lying on the street by a neighbor following the shooting, his relatives said. “He had his back turned at the bus stop and he shot him in the head. He never saw it coming,” Nicholson told FOX 5.
Police said Abdi fled back home after the shooting, but he was eventually taken into custody. He has since been charged with aggravated assault and carrying a weapon. Timothy’s condition will, however, determine if the charges will be upgraded.
“He’s on life support and it’s up to me to take him off life support. He’s brain dead at this moment but they are trying everything they can to keep him here,” the victim’s mother said.
Gwinnett County Schools officials said the victim and the suspected shooter were students at Central Gwinnett High School. “My son never had any problems with anyone. He never hung out. He was into sports and school. I never saw this coming,” Nicholson said.
