(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 don't know what the apology was about, Sheriff Larry Leshovsky said. The student wasn't in any kind of trouble that the principal was aware of. The freshman, whose name wasn'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.
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NEW: Boy was transferred to Fargo for further treatment, mayor says
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NEW: "As far as I know, he's a well-behaved, good kid," mayor says
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NEW: Town is trying "to figure out what could have possibly happened," mayor adds
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Boy was coherent after he shot himself with a small handgun, principal says
@placeholder will resume Friday, when counselors will be on hand, the principal said.