Your World

Your World
Capture, share community events

°

Homepage / Jacksonville News
Text Size

Girl Dies In Shooting At Ft. Lauderdale School

POSTED: Wednesday, November 12, 2008
UPDATED: 9:41 pm EST November 12, 2008

A 15-year-old girl was charged with fatally shooting another student during an argument Wednesday at a Fort Lauderdale high school.

Teah Wimberly was charged with first-degree murder and discharging a weapon on school property, Fort Lauderdale Police said in a news release. The body of sophomore Amanda Collette, also 15, was found on a hallway floor at Dillard High School around 11 a.m. She was shot in the torso while students were changing classes.

"This is a situation where we are more than heartbroken," said Jim Notter, the superintendent of schools for Broward County.

Wimberly left campus and walked across the street to a restaurant called Captain Crab's Take-Away where she called authorities and told them that "she had shot her friend," said Sgt. Frank Sousa, a police spokesman. Authorities took her into custody at the restaurant and recovered a gun.

Messages left with police seeking an attorney for Wimberly were not immediately returned.

The discovery of the body started a confusing series of events. Police said they did not believe anyone heard gunshots, and an initial examination found no major wound on the girl's body, leading to questions about whether or not she was shot.

Authorities later confirmed the shooting and Sousa said it was possible a smaller-caliber gun was used and the wound closed around the bullet.

Police said no other students were believed to have been involved and the motive was still being investigated.

"This appears to be an isolated incident," Sousa said.

Teah Wimberly
Teah Wimberly
Stephan Willis, a sophomore who said he witnessed the shooting, said the girls were arguing in an outside corridor when Wimberly suddenly produced a gun and shot Collette.

"She's a nice girl. She's quiet. She just keeps to herself," Willis said of Collette. He said he had known the victim since elementary school.

Another student, 14-year-old freshman Hermond Davis, said the outside hallway was crowded after Collette collapsed and students screamed and panicked.

"As I am walking to the cafeteria, I saw this girl collapsed," Davis said. "She just fell, she just fell right out of the sky."

The school was locked down for a short time, but classes soon resumed. Still, as police were announcing the fatality, gates were chain-locked and access was being restricted. Several dozen parents had gathered outside after finding out about the shooting, some openly weeping.

"I'm just trying to get my baby out of here," said Betty Barnes, whose 15-year-old daughter, Tiffany, is a sophomore at the school. "I want to make sure she's OK. It's very scary not knowing."

Dillard has about 1,700 students. They don't pass through metal detectors, but officers are stationed on campus and security cameras are placed throughout.

Sponsored Links

Links We Like
Sponsored Content
Don’t ruin your chances of landing that new job by making easy to correct mistakes on your cover letter. More

Don’t believe everything people tell you about home improvement. Check out the top 4 myths and stop throwing away your money. More

The signs of Cancer can sometimes be very subtle. Here's a guide to help you recognize them early. More

People with type 2 diabetes can still enjoy restaurant meals with some planning and ahead-of-time menu sleuthing. More

Most Popular

  • StoriesClick to Expand

  • VideoClick to Expand

    • Uncut: Palin Talks To Crowd In Orange Park

      Sarah Palin gets off bus in Orange ParkFormer Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's brief remarks to the crowd gathered outside the Books-A-Million at Orange Park Mall, where the outspoken former vice-presidential candidate signed copies of her book.

    • Celebrity Chef Hit With Ham

      While handing out Thanksgiving food donations in Atlanta, celebrity chef Paula Deen was accidentally hit in the face with a ham.

    • Police: Teen Beaten With Baseball Bat

      William FoleyA 17-year-old is fighting for his life tonight after police say he was brutally beaten with a baseball bat.

    • Police: Woman Offers Sex For No Ticket

      Dashcam Of Officer Giving Woman TicketInvestigators say a Bradford County woman who got pulled over for speeding tried to work her way out a trade by offering sex to the officer that pulled her over.

    • Waycross Boy Shot With Pellet Gun, Dies

      Michael Maxwell Jr.Ware County's sheriff says Friday night's shooting of an 11-year-old boy with a pellet rifle by a football teammate remains under investigation.

  • SlideshowsClick to Expand

    • Images: Palin Greets Fans In Orange Park

      Sarah Palin visit to Orange ParkFormer Alaska Gov. Sara Palin and now best-selling author makes a two-hour stop in Orange Park Tuesday morning. Slideshow: Palin Talks To Crowd, Signs Books

    • Best Of The Worst: Mug Shot Hall Of Shame

      Kumari FulbrightCheck out these lookers who ran into the law.

    • Have You Seen These Fugitives?

      Capturing N.E. Florida's wanted suspects is a tough task, so the local station is trying to help with the Wheel of Justice. Every Thursday morning, the wheel spins and a wanted fugitive is profiled. Images: Fugitives On 'Wheel'

    • Images: Locals Line Up For Sarah Palin

      Books-A-Million lineTwo days before former vice-presidential candidate and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is to stop in northeast Florida to promote her new book, "Going Rogue," dozens of people were already in line to get autographs.

    • Must-See Pics: Trunk Ball

      Get your daily dose of the cute and unusual right here.