A Stillwater Junior High student hugs a member of the staff as her class is escorted to a waiting bus following the death of a student Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 in Stillwater, Okla. A 13-year-old student shot and killed himself in a hallway at an Oklahoma junior high school before classes began Wednesday, police said, terrifying teenagers who feared a gunman was on the loose. (AP Photo/The News Press,Chase Rheam)
A Stillwater Junior High student hugs a member of the staff as her class is escorted to a waiting bus following the death of a student Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 in Stillwater, Okla. A 13-year-old student shot and killed himself in a hallway at an Oklahoma junior high school before classes began Wednesday, police said, terrifying teenagers who feared a gunman was on the loose. (AP Photo/The News Press,Chase Rheam)
A sign declaring Stillwater Junior High School as a drug free and gun free zone is pictured outside the school in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012. A 13-year-old student shot and killed himself in a hallway at the schooll before classes began Wednesday, police said, terrifying teenagers who feared a gunman was on the loose. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Police and fire vehicles are parked outside Stillwater Junior High School in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012. A 13-year-old student shot and killed himself in a hallway at an Oklahoma junior high school before classes began Wednesday, police said, (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
A fire-rescue truck and a police car are parked outside Stillwater Junior High School in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012. A 13-year-old student shot and killed himself in a hallway at an Oklahoma junior high school before classes began Wednesday, police said, terrifying teenagers who feared a gunman was on the loose. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Stillwater, Okla., Police Capt. Randy Dickerson, right, answers a question during a news conference in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 after a 13-year-old student shot and killed himself in a hallway at an Oklahoma junior high school before classes began Wednesday. Looking on is Superintendent of schools Ann Caine. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) ? A gunshot rang out at an Oklahoma junior high school before classes began Wednesday, terrifying teenagers who feared a gunman was on the loose.
Soon, though, students learned no one else was in danger. One of their eighth-grade classmates had taken his own life, shooting himself in the head with a handgun in the hall, authorities said.
"Throughout the entire thing, we all thought someone shot someone else," said student Paiton Gardner, 14. "We didn't know it was a suicide. We were freaking out."
Some students bolted outside Stillwater Junior High. Staffers quickly locked down the building and evacuated the rest of the school's 700 eighth- and ninth-graders, along with students from an adjacent elementary school, police Capt. Randy Dickerson said.
Dickerson said the 13-year-old didn't leave a note, and authorities said they don't know why he killed himself. Superintendent Ann Caine said there weren't any reports that the teen had been bullied.
"There is no indication that that's what occurred," Caine said. She said the teen was a good student who got along with other kids.
Police wouldn't say where the weapon came from or how the eighth-grader got it into the school. Caine said there aren't any metal detectors but expects there will be discussions about the policy.
Gardner said she realized something was wrong early Wednesday when students began to run past her.
"People looked terrified," said Gardner, a ninth-grader. "The football coach was like, 'Get out, get out! Someone's been shot.'"
She and other students sprinted down the hallway, passing blood on the wall and floor as she ran to a nearby playground.
Another ninth-grader, Jake Green, said he heard the single shot ring out after he and dozens of other students gathered to pray before school.
"We heard this loud boom and everyone just got quiet," Green said. "No one said a word."
A teacher told the students to get out of the building, Green said.
"Everyone was really scared. We didn't know if the kid shot himself or if there was a shooter outside the school who shot in," Green said. "Everyone didn't know what was going on, so they were screaming and running as fast as they could to get to the playground."
Students were wearing superhero costumes Wednesday as part of an effort to raise cancer awareness, Caine said. She said she didn't know what the student who shot himself was wearing.
Green said students who were already in their classrooms were locked in the building for about an hour.
"It was really scary," Green said. "Everyone's kind of traumatized and doesn't know how to act or respond."
Kenny Monday told The Associated Press that his son, Kennedy, heard the gunshot but did not witness the shooting.
"It's so sad that the kid lost his life, but we're just glad he didn't shoot anyone else," Monday said.
Stillwater Junior High sent a statement to parents saying there had been a "single shooting incident" at the school and that staff and students had been moved to a safe location. Parents were told to pick up their children at a nearby shopping center. Stillwater is located about 70 miles west of Tulsa.
Caine said counselors would be available for students.
"It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of a tragic incident at our (school) this morning," Caine said in a letter to parents. "At 7:50 a.m. one of our students died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. All other students and staff are safe."
He told reporters that the family had been notified of the student's death.
"This is a family who is grieving right now," Caine said.
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Nuss reported from Little Rock. Associated Press writers Ashley M. Heher in Chicago, Ken Miller and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City and Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Ark., contributed to this story.
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Follow Jeannie Nuss at http://twitter.com/jeannienuss
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