WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - Wichita police say three students suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting near East High School. 

Reports came in shortly before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday near the school, which is at Douglas and Grove. Capt. Kevin Kochenderfer said residents reported kids involved in a disturbance with shots fired north of Douglas. 

First responders located two victims, who were out on lunch at the time of the shooting, and transported them to an area hospital. Police later confirmed a third victim who was grazed in front of the school and sought help at the nurse's office. 

Capt. Kochenderfer said with the help of citizens, officers put the license plate number into their Flock camera system, tracked the suspect vehicle and took a 17-year-old male and two 16-year-old males into custody at around 1 p.m. in the 1900 block of Roanoke, near Edgemoor and Mt. Vernon. Officers found a handgun in the vehicle as well as other evidence related to the shooting.

Police say the shooting stemmed from an "ongoing issue" and was not a random act. 

Numerous students were outside at the time of the shooting.

"We were at lunch and we just started hearing gunshots and went to the floor," says student Kameir Scales.

"She said it was a shooting, I thought it was fireworks and she was like oh no oh no they shooting," says student Nickira.

The building was struck twice but both bullets ricocheted off windows and did not penetrate the building. 


The school was placed on lockdown, but it has been lifted. Terri Moses, director of safety for Wichita Public Schools, said parents could pickup their children but it wouldn't be a normal release. 

"It will be a reunification release, which means that they (parents) have to have identification to pick up their student," Moses said. "We will continue school until the end of the day as normal. Any student that wishes to stay, of course, we want them to stay in school. Our buses will run as normal."

 
User: KAKE News To: link

 

"My heart just stopped. We couldn't get a hold of my daughter because she left her phone in the car," says an East High parent.

East High sent the following message to parents before school was dismissed Tuesday afternoon:

Dear East High parents,
I wanted to follow up and provide some additional information regarding the incident that occurred at East High today. During the lunch period, two students left campus. While in the neighborhood, shots were fired and those students received non-life threatening injuries that required medical attention. The students returned to campus to receive care. A third student later reported a minor injury and was treated by our school nurse.

Concerned neighbors called 911, and we immediately put our crisis plan into action. All of the students who were outside for lunch immediately moved back into our school building.

As of this writing, the individuals responsible for this incident have been taken into custody. As the investigation is completed this afternoon, we anticipate campus being opened up for normal dismissal.

I know this is a frightening situation, and we will have our district’s crisis team available to support our students and staff this afternoon, and tomorrow as needed. We also have the full support of the Wichita Police Department as they place priority on investigating this incident.
I love our East High community, and I know we will pull together and continue to be focused on creating the safest possible environment for our students and staff. Please remain connected to the life of your children, and let them know if that if they have concerns about things that make them feel unsafe, they should reach out to a trusted adult at school. Your on-going support of East High is appreciated.

Previous story:

Wichita police are on the scene of a reported shooting near East High School.

Reports came in shortly before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday near the school, which is at Douglas and Grove. Police have not confirmed the reports or released any additional information. 

USD 259 spokesperson Susan Arensman said the shooting did not happen on campus, but she added that one person who was shot sought help at the school. 

The school is on lockdown, and the district sent a text to parents telling them to not pick up their children. Traffic in the area is being diverted.

KAKE News has multiple crews at the scene. Check back for updates. 

 
User: KAKE News To: link