Two students were taken to a hospital in the aftermath of a shooting at Heritage High School in Newport News, Virginia, on Monday, police said.
A 17-year-old boy was shot in the face at Heritage High School and a 17-year-old girl was shot in the leg, Newport News police Chief Steve Drew said at a news conference.
The Newport News Police Department wrote in a statement posted to social media earlier Monday that they were on the scene of the shooting, and students were being evacuated and sent to the police courts.
In a subsequent update, police said that “two people were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds that are not believed to be life-threatening.”
The chief said authorities believe the suspect and victims knew one another but did not provide details. The suspect was not in custody, but Drew said evidence was recovered on school grounds. Investigators were looking at footage and other evidence and working with FBI and schools to identify the suspect, he said.
The building was evacuated, and FBI agents and state troopers were searching the school for anyone remaining inside, Drew said.
George Parker, superintendent of Newport News Public Schools, said the high school does random searches for guns. Classes resumed on Sept. 8, so students were in their second full week of the school year.
“No superintendent, no teacher or principal would want to ever go through this situation,” Parker said. “Just seeing the faces of our students and how afraid they were under these circumstances, and out staff, who are traumatized. … No one would want to through these circumstances.”
Video from the scene showed tactical units arriving at the scene, parents on sidewalks talking on cellphones as crime scene tape stretched across portions of the school parking lot.
Drew said two other people were taken to the hospital after the shooting: one whose arm was injured as people ran from school and another because of asthma.
In a statement, police also attempted to debunk rumors that there are other active shooters at other nearby schools: “That information is false.”
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam wrote on Twitter that his office is “in close contact with first responders at Heritage High School in Newport News.”
“As more information becomes available, please avoid the area and follow all instructions from law enforcement,” Gov. Northam cautioned.
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said that he is “closely monitoring horrifying reports” of the shooting, writing in a social media post that he is “praying for the health and safety of all involved as we wait to learn more.”
This is a developing story. Check back later for further updates.
The Associated Press contributed to this update.
