16-year-old dies days after being shot at Gwinnett school bus stop

A 16-year-old Gwinnett County boy has died days after he was gunned down by his classmate while waiting for a school bus, police said Thursday.

Timothy Barnes Jr., an 11th grader at Central Gwinnett High School, was ambushed around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday at the bus stop in the Saddle Shoals subdivision and shot in the head, according to Lawrenceville police. His classmate, 17-year-old Serar Shakiib Abdi, was quickly taken into custody and is facing multiple charges related to the shooting.

Credit: Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office

Barnes’ family believed he was brain dead and was clinging to life in a hospital before he was declared dead late Wednesday, Lawrenceville police Lt. Jake Parker confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Detectives were notified of his death Thursday morning.

Abdi was initially arrested on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and is now facing an additional charge of malice murder, Parker said. Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute between the two teenagers.

“They had a history where they had some sort of conflict, and of course this was the result,” Parker said.

An 18-year-old was also taken into custody with Abdi, interviewed and released Tuesday. He was not charged, according to Parker.

Principal Shane Orr said Central Gwinnett faculty and counselors would be available this week to help students deal with the tragedy.

— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.