TOWNVILLE, S.C. — The mother of a teen accused of killing his father and wounding two students and a teacher at a rural South Carolina elementary school says his family is “shocked and saddened.”

In a statement that Pastor James South provided to local media outlets, Tiffney Osborne says the family “cannot express the devastation we feel at the loss of our beloved Jeff.”

Authorities said the shooting began Wednesday afternoon at the teen’s house about 2 miles from rural Townville Elementary School, where he gunned down his 47-year-old father, Jeffrey Osborne.

Authorities have not released the suspect’s name or age beyond saying he’s a teen. South says Tiffney Osborne found out about the shooting through media reports. Anderson County Sheriff John Skipper said earlier that she was at work at the time of the shooing.

Skipper said Jamie Brock, a 30-year veteran of the Townville Volunteer Fire Department, “just took him down” and stopped the teen before he could get inside the school. The sheriff said the fire station is close to the school, and Brock arrived before other officers responding to the dispatch.

Brock has said he doesn’t want attention for his actions.

He “wants to remain humble and quiet about it” as he believes “he did nothing any of the other volunteer firefighters wouldn’t have done,” said Scott Stoller with Anderson County Emergency Management.

Regardless, he said, “Firefighter Brock is absolutely a hero.”

The teacher wounded in the shooting, Meghan Hollingsworth, also was reluctant to talk.

“We are not interested in giving interviews or answering questions of any kind,” a sign posted on the front door of her home Thursday morning read.

“We ask that you respect our privacy,” the note said, while expressing appreciation for those concerned about her.

Sheriff’s Lt. Sheila Cole said officers and forensic specialists were returning to the school Thursday morning to resume their investigation.

Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore said the teen, crying and upset, called his grandmother’s cellphone at 1:44 p.m. Wednesday, Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore said.