Student accused of shooting self at Grady HS to face judge

ATLANTA — A 17-year-old student is facing several charges after accidentally shooting herself outside Grady High School on Wednesday.

Morgan Tukes is expected to make her first court appearance on Thursday to face a felony charge of minor in possession of a pistol, as well as misdemeanor charges of reckless conduct, carrying a weapon within a school safety zone and disrupting a public school.

Atlanta police said Tukes, a senior, was carrying a handgun on Grady High School grounds Wednesday morning when it went off, shooting her in the leg.

"I heard 'Pow,' like, a little pop, it sounded like a firecracker pop," student Collin Wilson said.

"We were worried at first because at first we thought it was someone shooting, like, students, but it was nothing like that," student Akeila Barber said.

Detectives believe Tukes' friends tried to let her in a side door near the gym because she was late.

Police said they do not believe the gun ever made it inside a classroom, but they want to know the intent for bringing a gun to school.

The school was placed on immediate lockdown for two and a half hours.

Tukes remains at the Fulton County Jail on $9,000 bond. She is expected to appear before a judge Thursday morning.

WSBTV