GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A student is hospitalized after a shooting outside a Grand Rapids Public School Tuesday afternoon, school officials say.
Two male students were in a park near Alger Middle School adjacent to a school building when the shooting happened, Superintendent Leadriane Roby said. It's unclear what led to the shooting at this time, or why the students were outside the school during the day.
The boys ran to the school for help. Staff quickly began providing first aid, called first responders and placed the school on Code Red, Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom said. No one inside was hurt.
The student who was injured was shot in the face. He was conscious and alert when he was sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Winstrom said.
Winstrom says the gun was a semi-automatic 9 mm handgun.
"This is a very unique situation. You don't usually talk about middle schoolers with guns," he said. "Lawful gun owners should know it is the morally correct thing to do, to safely store your firearms, it's also the law."
The other student is speaking with the Grand Rapids Police Department to help with the investigation.
Other students are now in a Code Yellow and remain inside the school at this time. A staggered dismissal is planned.
"My understanding is, and it's very early on, is that there were two young boys who were students of the school together, one of them was shot and both of them sought refuge... this is something obviously could have been extremely tragic," GRPD Chief Eric Winstrom said. "Hearing the news from the hospital that he's expected to make a recovery. That's just exceptional news. We're very thankful for that."
Winstrom, a father to a middle schooler at a public school, says it's hard to get calls like the one he got Tuesday.
"If you are a gun owner, please be a very safe and responsible gun owner," he said.
The school will be closed on Wednesday.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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