One teenager was killed and two others are in critical condition following a shooting outside of an Iowa high school Monday, according to authorities.
Police responded to a report of “multiple shooting victims” on the school grounds of East High School in Des Moines around 2:48 p.m. on Monday afternoon.
Police said the gunfire came from a passing vehicle that fled the scene.
The three teenage victims were taken to a local hospital. One victim – a 15-year-old boy – was pronounced dead after succumbing to his injuries. Two girls – ages 16 and 18 – are currently in critical condition, Des Moines cops said.
Police would not confirm whether or not the teens were students at the high school, according to WHO 13.
No other injuries were reported.
Police have detained multiple potential suspects for questioning in relation to the shooting. No charges have been filed yet.
“We’ve got some potential suspects detained. That will be a piece that moves through the night that we’re going to have to be working on,” Sgt. Paul Parizek said. “The kids in that school are our community’s most precious cargo. So, the medics and the firefighters did an outstanding job getting up here. You know, it’s sad. We do train for this. We have to be prepared for it. And this is why.”
Students were permitted to leave campus around 3:30 after the school’s lockdown was lifted.
East High student Kaylie Shannon told KCCI she was outside of the school when gunfire erupted.
“I was just sitting in my friend’s car and then all of the sudden I heard 11 gunshots and some boys screaming,” Shannon said.
Des Moines Public Schools announced that no classes would be held on Tuesday, and would make grief counselors available to students and staff upon their return.
This is the first year since 1999 that the district operated without Des Moines police officers in the buildings after the school board votedx to end the school resource officer program, claiming it negatively affected students of color, according to KCCI.
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