A 15-year-old student has been charged with murder after what began as a brief hallway encounter at Oak Ridge High School escalated into a deadly shooting, leaving a 16-year-old classmate dead, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities identified the suspect as Jacori Redding, 15, and the victim as Pinien Dalmacy, 16. Investigators say the two teens accidentally bumped into each other in a school hallway earlier this week. When Dalmacy failed to apologize, Redding allegedly became angry and later arranged to confront him at a nearby basketball court after school.
Sheriff John Mina said the confrontation turned violent when Redding pulled out a gun and shot Dalmacy, killing him.
“I’m really angry that something as small as bumping into someone in the halls of a high school — something we’ve all done — has now turned into a deadly shooting of a 16-year-old,” Mina said during a press briefing.
After the shooting, Redding reportedly returned to school grounds, where deputies took him into custody without incident. He is being held in juvenile detention and faces a charge of murder.
During his initial court appearance on Friday, Redding appeared calm and even smiled toward family members as the judge read the charges. Authorities noted that Redding was already facing charges in a separate grand theft auto case.
Investigators are now working to determine how Redding obtained the firearm used in the deadly incident.
School officials said Dalmacy had been enrolled in Orange County Public Schools for just over a year, describing him as a quiet and respectful student whose loss has deeply affected the school community.