Press Conference May 12, 2026: Shooting at Horrell Hill Elementary School

05/12/26

Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Corey Gibbons (44; DOB: 09/21/81) and stresses the importance of SROs in schools following the shooting incident that occurred at Horrell Hill Elementary School on the afternoon of May 11, 2026.

On May 11, 2026, at approximately 1:15 p.m., the SRO of Horrell Hill Elementary School was patrolling the area of the school to ensure the safety of students when a vehicle began to follow her. The vehicle continued to follow her onto school property where she confronted the driver of the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Gibbons, did not have a reason for being at the school and was instructed by the SRO to leave. As the SRO was getting back into her vehicle, Gibbons fired shots at the SRO in her vehicle. The SRO called for assistance from additional units who responded and secured the scene finding Gibbons laying on the ground by his vehicle with injuries to his upper body. Gibbons made a statement to a statement to a responding deputy on scene that he shot himself before becoming uncooperative with the investigation.

The incident that occurred at Horrell Hill Elementary School is an example of why SROs in schools are important. Gibbons travelled to an elementary school with a firearm. He fired shots as the school’s SRO when confronted on school property. Having an SRO on the school property to confront Gibbons before making entry into the school prevented a situation that could have been much worse. Gibbons was transported to a local hospital to receive treatment for his injuries.

Patrol deputies and investigators responded to the school to secure the scene and assist to ensure the safety of everyone at the school. RCSD investigators and the Crime Scene Unit began an investigation. The details surrounding Gibbons’ reasoning and motive for the shooting are still under investigation. Gibbons is hospitalized but is under arrest. Once he is released from the hospital, he will be transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. He is charged with Attempted Murder, Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime, Aggravated Breach of Peace, Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle, and Possession of a Weapon on School Property.

The SRO at Horrell Hill Elementary School is Toynika Hall. Deputy Hall has been employed with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department since February of 2023.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has over 100 SRO deputies assigned to schools in Richland County. The deputies are spread over School District’s One, Two, and Five. One of the duties of an SRO is to protect the students and staff at our schools and yesterday, SRO Hall did exactly that.