An 18-year-old student has been treated and released from the hospital after he was accidentally shot outside a Ouachita County high school Wednesday, authorities said.
Ouachita County Sheriff David Norwood said it happened around 3 p.m. at Harmony Grove High School after the teen and a 17-year-old friend were dropped back off at the school. They had been attending a vocational tech program off-campus and returned by bus shortly before school dismissed for the day.
Norwood said the older student had forgotten he had a pistol in his vehicle. The sheriff said the younger student found it and was "messing with it" when it went off, shot through the driver-side seat and struck the 18-year-old in the back.
"It was nothing intentional, just friends and a little bit of stupidity mixed in," Norwood said.
He said the bullet struck only "fatty tissue" and the student's injury didn't require surgery.
The 17-year-old appeared in front of a juvenile magistrate Wednesday night, though Norwood said he could not discuss what, if any charges, that teen could face.
The investigation was continuing, and the 18-year-old could face a charge of possessing a firearm on school property, Norwood added.