Boy, 6, dies days after South Carolina school shooting

GREENVILLE, SC (WSPA) – Jacob Hall, the 6-year-old victim of a shooting at Townville Elementary School, has died at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Hall died just before 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon, according to the Anderson County Coroner.

Hall was shot Wednesday afternoon after deputies say a teenager shot at him and his classmates hitting two students and a teacher.

An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday to determine the cause of death.

Jacobs parents, Renae and Rodger released a statement through the hospital thanking the community for their love and support:

Our son, Jacob Hall, who was shot at Townville Elementary School on Wednesday, died today surrounded by family at Greenville Health System Children’s Hospital. Jacob came into our lives six years and four months ago and changed it completely. He showed us how to love, laugh and smile even on days we did not want to. God gave him to us and he was taken away from us by a senseless act. We know that Jacob has already forgiven this child for what he did to him and his family because that’s the kind of child he was. Jacob was sent to this earth for this short a period of time to show us that there is such a thing as pure love. Jacob is in heaven with God now and everyone who loves him. Words cannot express how much we will miss him.

We want to express our thanks and appreciation to the community for the outpouring of love and support. We also want to thank the doctors and nurses at GHS Children’s Hospital, who did everything in their power to try to save Jacob, and to Ms. Hollingsworth, who put her life on the line to try to protect and save Jacob. We also want to thank Preacher Blizzard and the staff of Oakdale Baptist Church, the Townville Rescue Squad, Townville Fire Department, Fire Chief Billy McAdams and all of the first responders. This is an extremely difficult time for our family, and we ask for privacy as we continue to grieve the loss of our beloved son. Funeral arrangements will be shared on Monday.

Anderson School District Four Superintendent Dr. Joanne Avery released this statement on Facebook:

Anderson School District 4 and the staff and students at Townville Elementary mourn the loss of 6-year-old Jacob Hall. Jacob is an innocent victim of an unexplainable act of violence that occurred while he was on his way to the school playground Wednesday afternoon. Jacob was a delightful child who was full of joy and beloved by his family, friends and all at Townville Elementary School. Despite a strong fight these past few days, his life was cut short by this tragedy that cannot be explained or easily understood. Jacob will not be forgotten. We grieve for his parents and his family. We will wrap our arms around his teacher, his friends and his classmates.

We will continue to provide love and support to all in our schools and community as we work together to get through this tragic event. Townville, you are not alone. It is our hope that we all come together in a state of grace and peace as we support one another in the coming days and weeks. We need each other; we cannot get through this alone. We ask all to join us in praying for and supporting Jacob’s family and the others injured in the shooting.

“Jacob was a tremendous fighter but was unable to overcome the catastrophic blood loss and resulting cardiopulmonary arrest caused when the bullet hit his femoral artery,” said Dr. Keith Webb with Greenville Health System. “We grieve for the loss of this little boy and pray for his family as they work through this extraordinarily difficult time.”

Another student was shot in the foot and the teacher was shot in the shoulder, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

Both were released from the hospital later the day of the shooting.

Deputies say there is no known relationship between the suspect and the victims.

Friday, an Anderson County judge charged the teen with murder and three counts of attempted murder.

The suspect is home-schooled and is not a student at any school in the Anderson Co. School District.

A family friend says he was expelled from his school last year for bringing a hatchet to school and attacking a child.

Deputies say they were on-scene within seven minutes and the suspect was apprehended on the school grounds before 2:00 p.m.