( CNN ) -- A North Dakota freshman walked in front of his class , made an apology and then shot himself with a handgun Thursday morning , Richland County authorities said . The injured boy was coherent when he was taken to a hospital , said Principal Jay Townsend of Fairmount Public School , which has 112 students from kindergarten through 12th grade . Authorities do n't know what the apology was about , Sheriff Larry Leshovsky said . The student was n't in any kind of trouble that the principal was aware of . The freshman , whose name was n't being released , has lived in the small , rural community of 380 residents his entire life and has spent all educational years at Fairmount School , Mayor Jon Nelk said . The student was transferred to a hospital in Fargo , but the mayor had no further details . The student 's grandparents grew up in the Fairmount area and his parents have lived in town their entire lives , Nelk said . `` As far as I know , he 's a well-behaved , good kid , '' the mayor said . `` We 're a rural area , but guns are not commonplace . '' The shooting was `` an isolated incident '' for the town , Nelk said . `` I 'm sure when we sit down this evening and start playing it back , we 'll try to figure out what could have possibly happened and why this happened , '' Nelk said . `` It 's a very tight community . `` I 've had a lot of conversations with parents and some students . They 're quite worried and hoping that our prayers go out to the child and the family and the friends , '' the mayor said . A teacher provided first-aid to the boy , and the school went into lockdown shortly after the 8:40 a.m. shooting , Townsend said . An alert system called all parents , and school was canceled for the day , Townsend said . School will resume Friday , when counselors will be on hand , the principal said . `` This has never happened here before , '' said Townsend , who has been principal of the school for five years . `` This kind of situation is very rare and new to North Dakota , the community , our school and the students . '' National Depression Screening Day : Sharing experiences can help heal .
NEW : Boy was transferred to Fargo for further treatment , mayor says . Comment: ` As far as I know , he 's a well-behaved , good kid , '' mayor says . NEW : Town is trying `` to figure out what could have possibly happened , '' mayor adds . Boy was coherent after he shot himself with a small handgun , principal says .