UPDATE 3/8, 3:25 p.m. ET: Police said that “within several hours,” six Des Moines teens ranging from age 14 to 17 were arrested in connection with the shooting, which was reportedly a targeted attack on the fatally wounded 15-year-old, Jose David Lopez. He was not a student at East High School; the injured 16-year-old and 18-year-old are enrolled there.
All six suspects are being charged as adults, and NBC News writes they were “booked on suspicion of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.” The shots reportedly came from more than one shooter in multiple vehicles; six guns have been recovered by authorities amid the issuing of at least 11 search warrants for homes and cars.
“Detectives quickly learned that this was a drive-by shooting, and the deceased victim was the intended target. … While this incident occurred outside of a school, it could have occurred in any one of our neighborhoods. The school is where the suspects found their target,” stated Des Moines Police on Tuesday, stressing that East High School was not a target.
East High principal Jill Versteeg told parents on Monday, “I think we can all agree an event like this is everyone’s worst nightmare. Tonight, hug your students and love them.”
In a statement from Des Moines Public Schools, superintendent Thomas Ahart said, “We live in an era when shootings in and near schools have become too common. Our staff and students are forced to train for these incidents and the trauma associated with the repeated drills and incidents will remain with them for years to come. It’s unfortunate that our state and our country have become a place where firearms are far too easily accessible. We remain committed to protecting our students and staff, but real change to gun laws and access would go a long way to help us.”
UPDATE 3/7, 6:19 p.m. ET: According to the Associated Press, one of the students who was shot, age 15, has died. The other two students who were injured, ages 16 and 18, remain in critical condition.
See original story below.
Three people are in critical condition following a shooting Monday afternoon outside a high school in Des Moines, Iowa, according to CNN and ABC News.
CNN reports, citing fire department spokesperson Ahman Douglass, that the three people who were injured in the shooting were students, two boys and one girl.
According to police, the shooting took place outside of East High School. Police Sgt. Paul Parizek said authorities have detained potential suspects.
“The kids in that school are our community’s most precious cargo,” Parizek told KCCI. “The medics and the firefighters did an outstanding job getting up here. It’s sad, but we do train for this, we have to be prepared for it. This is why.”
Des Moines Public Schools revealed on Twitter that the school, which was initially put on lockdown earlier today, has been given the “all clear” and students will be dismissed “on time.”
“East High School is currently locked down,” the school wrote. “Please do not go to the school. More information will be available soon. Des Moines Police and DMPS public safety have given East High School the all clear. Students are dismissing on time.”
