It is only the 67th day of 2022 and as CNN reports, America has experienced at least 13 school shootings. The most recent school shooting occurred on March 7 at an Iowa high school.
Six Teenagers Charged With First Degree Murder in Iowa School Shooting
According to reports, one teen is dead and two are in critical condition following the horrifying ordeal. As KCCI reports, six teenagers have been arrested in connection to the shooting and they have all been charged with first-degree murder.
Their identities have been reported as 17-year-old Octavio Lopez, 14-year-old Nyang Chamdual, 16-year-old Manuel Buezo, 16-year-old Romero Perdomo, 15-year-old Alex Perdomo, and 17-year-old Henry Valladares-Amaya. Six different firearms were also seized in the investigation.
As local police continue their investigation, the teenagers who were shot were on the ground of East High School in Des Moines, Iowa. However, they were not inside the school when the shooting began.
Police believe that shots were fired from a passing vehicle, CNN reports. The 15-year-old who died from his injuries was not a student at East High School, but the two female students who are in critical condition were students. Their ages have been reported as 16 and 18.
“Des Moines Police Department detectives continue to investigate this incident. Witnesses are being interviewed, evidence examined, investigative leads followed, and multiple search warrants are being executed,” Parizek said.
Parizek says reports of gunshots were made around 2:49 p.m. on March 7. When police arrived, they discovered the three victims outside.
Witness and fellow East High School student, Kaylie Shannon said she was in her car, which was parked outside the high school when she first heard the shots. “I was just sitting in my friend’s car and then all of the sudden I heard 11 gunshots and some boys screaming,” she told KCCI.
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The school when into lockdown down for about 40 minutes before the remainder of the student were released around 3:30 p.m. Sargeant Parizek called the shooting a “punch in the gut,” KCCI reports, before adding, “The kids in that school are our community’s most precious cargo.”
As a result, East High School will remain closed on Tuesday and will offer a “grief team” to students and staff who need it. School counselors will be available at our other schools for students who need additional support,” the district said in a news release.
Additionally, the school’s Principal Jill Versteeg, wrote, “I think we can all agree an event like this is everyone’s worst nightmare. Tonight, hug your students and love them.