16-year old Tennessee boy shoots 17-year old boy at school

A 16-year old boy and a 17-year old boy had been fighting over a girl, at Liberty Technology Magnet High School in Jackson, Tennessee.  After school, the 17-year old approached the 16-year old.

That's when the younger boy pulled out a handgun and shot the 17-year old in the thigh.  The shooter fled, but was later caught.

The shooting happened on school property, just outside the school doors.

From an article:

Police said on Friday that investigators have learned the 16-year-old suspect and 17-year-old shooting victim had been in a previous disagreement concerning a female Liberty student. When school was dismissed Thursday afternoon, the 17-year-old approached the 16-year-old outside the building, police said.There was an altercation, and the 16-year-old shot the 17-year-old once in the thigh with a handgun, investigators said.

The 17-year-old did not have a gun.

“The 17-year-old approached the shooter,” Jackson police Capt. Tyreece Miller said. “If (the victim) had not approached (the shooter) we don’t think he would have shot him.”

The 16-year-old is charged with aggravated assault, carrying a weapon on school property, alteration of an item with permanent distinguishing numbers because the serial numbers had been altered on the handgun, and tampering with evidence.

The shooting victim remained in the hospital Friday in stable condition, police said.

The 16-year-old is charged with assault because authorities do not believe he intended to kill the victim, Miller said.

The gun's serial number had been filed off.  Where did the boy get his gun?

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.