LeFlore High School shooting: 16-year-old girl arrested in shooting that injured 2 students

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https://www.al.com/news/2024/01/leflore-high-school-shooting-juvenile-male-victim-expected-to-survive-mobile-police-say.html

 

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Updated: Jan. 30, 2024

 

By

• John Sharp | jsharp@al.com

A 16-year-old girl was arrested for allegedly shooting two students inside LeFlore High School on Tuesday, neither of whom suffered life-threatening injuries.

 

The shooting occurred at approximately 12:03 p.m. at 700 Donald Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 16-year-old girl had engaged in a verbal altercation with a 15-year-old male victim. During the argument, the girl produced a handgun and shot the 15-year-old, causing a superficial wound, according to Mobile police.

 

 

The bullet also struck a 17-year-old male student who was subsequently transported to the hospital for treatment of a non-life-threatening injury.

Mobile County School Superintendent Chresall Threadgill, in a statement, said the two students are in stable condition.

 

 

With the assistance of her parents, the girl surrendered to the police, according to police. No other students or faculty members were injured during this incident.

 

 

Mobile Police Corporal Katrina Frazier, in a news release, said the girl was charged with two counts of assault 1st degree, possession of a deadly weapon on school grounds and discharging a firearm into a school building. She has been taken to Mobile Metro Jail.

 

 

Frazier, earlier in the day, said the shooting was not considered an active shooter incident and that “none of the kids in school are in danger.”

 

 

The shooting did spark chaos outside the school.

 

 

“It was crazy, and it was crowded and people were worried about their children with kids hanging outside the window trying to communicate with them,” said Racquel Murphy, who lives next to the high school. “It was a whole bizarre thing.”

 

 

Threadgill, in a statement, said the school system continues to work with police “to ensure the matter is fully investigated.”

 

 

“Incidents such as this are not tolerated, and as superintendent, I want to assure our parents and community that this matter will be handled to the fullest extent as allowed by law,” Threadgill said in a statement. “Both school personnel and law enforcement responded quickly to the incident and worked collaboratively to secure the school and to keep the other students, faculty and staff safe.

 

He said the school system will be reviewing “all safety protocols and procedures” and will made adjustments as needed to prevent “something like this from happening again.”

 

 

“This was a very unfortunate event,” he said. “The injured students are in stable condition and currently communicating with the school administration. We will continue to keep the students and their families in our thoughts and prayers.”

 

 

The shooting also resonated across the Mobile Bay, where Baldwin County Superintendent Eddie Tyler released the following statement, “Our hearts are broken today over the shooting in Mobile. I have sent messages to Mobile County offering our services and support. School violence is an issue we deal with every day and, in fact, all educators are dealing with it across Alabama and across the country. Schools must be a safe place for children and we will do anything we can to support Mobile County in this difficult time and mission.”