‘I’m simply enthusiastic about her, hoping that she’s OK,’ says classmate of lady wounded throughout capturing at Benito Juarez highschool that left 2 college students lifeless, 2 others injured

Two of 4 college students shot exterior Benito Juarez Group Academy on town’s Southwest Facet Friday afternoon have died, based on officers.

Brandon Perez, 15, and a 14-year-old boy whose household has not but been notified, have died, based on the Prepare dinner County medical expert’s workplace and police, who stated each had been shot within the head.

The capturing occurred at 2:45 p.m. exterior the highschool, 2150 S. Laflin St., on faculty property shortly after dismissal, based on Larry Langford, a Chicago Fireplace Division spokesperson and college officers.

All 4 victims had been college students, although it’s not clear from which faculty, based on Langford.

One of many boys was lifeless on the scene, whereas the opposite was initially in important situation after struggling “traumatic arrest,” based on Langford.

The survivors included a 15-year-old lady who suffered a graze wound to the thigh and a 15-year-old boy who was shot within the thigh and shoulder, police stated.

All of them had been taken to Stroger Hospital, and Chicago police Superintendent David Brown, who attended an early night information convention on the twelfth District station, stated their circumstances had been severe. Brown wouldn’t verify they had been college students.

Police had been reviewing surveillance video from close to the crime scene, however weren’t capable of say the place the gunman got here from, Brown stated.

CPS is working with the varsity’s principal to plan a response for when college students return Monday, stated CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, who was additionally readily available.

”That features offering disaster assist, battle assist, grief counseling,” stated Jadine Chou, CPS chief of security and safety. The varsity may have added safety too, Chou stated

Brown stated nobody had been arrested.

One Juarez pupil who ducked right into a fuel station throughout the road to flee the chilly, stood alone with tears in his eyes. His pal had been shot, he stated, and he knew one of many boys who died. ”I’m simply enthusiastic about her, hoping that she’s OK,” the sophomore stated.

Police spokesperson Tom Ahern stated at about 3:30 p.m. that the varsity introduced an “all clear.”

As of about 4:30 p.m., law enforcement officials positioned small orange cones to mark proof exterior the varsity.

They targeted on a courtyard beneath lecture rooms and between the varsity’s foremost buildings, shut to an entrance and the road.

A safety guard escorted a pupil away from the varsity and an administrator walked out of its car parking zone as officers continued to look by flashlight.

A press release from Chicago Public Faculties started by saying that the security of their faculty neighborhood is “our prime precedence.”

“This afternoon, we obtained reviews that pictures had been fired exterior of Benito Juarez Excessive Faculty shortly after dismissal,” the assertion stated. “The Chicago Police Division and paramedics responded shortly to the scene. CPS stays in shut contact with CPD and this incident is below investigation. “

“The CPS Workplace of Security and Safety and different district management are working intently with faculty management and workers in addition to CPD to collect info and reply to this incident. CPS will preserve Benito Juarez households up to date in addition to the higher neighborhood. Our ideas are with all these impacted by this tragedy,” based on the assertion.

Friday night the varsity was principally abandoned as police investigated.

Reactions poured in, together with one from U.S. Rep. Chuy Garcia, who stated in a tweet that his “coronary heart breaks” for the victims.

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Friday’s capturing is not less than the third involving CPS college students at or close to a faculty since August. 4 individuals had been shot simply after dismissal throughout the road from the Northwest Facet’s Schurz Excessive Faculty throughout this faculty 12 months’s first week. The 4 wounded had been believed to be CPS college students on the time and all survived, police stated.

On Dec. 6, a 15-year-old was shot and killed exterior the Austin neighborhood’s Michele Clark Educational Prep Magnet Excessive Faculty on the West Facet.

Police stated Friday that no suspects had been in custody in both faculty capturing.

Chicago Tribune’s Paige Fry contributed.

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