“It is a punch in the gut that we have three kids in the hospital," he said, “but we are hoping for the best for them.”
One person was killed and two others were critically wounded in a shooting outside an Iowa school, authorities said. Des Moines police on Monday said in a news release that gunfire that struck the victims on the grounds of East High School appeared to come from a passing vehicle. Potential suspects have been detained but no charges were immediately filed.
KCCI-TV reports that Sgt. Paul Parizek said potential suspects have been detained in the Monday afternoon shooting on the grounds of East High School, near Des Moines' downtown, about a half-mile, from the Capitol.
Police said he didn't know whether the three teens shot were students. “It is a punch in the gut that we have three kids in the hospital," he said, “but we are hoping for the best for them.”
He said calls started pouring in around 2.50 pm, shortly before classes were scheduled to dismiss for the day. The district said in a series of tweets that the school was initially locked down but later it announced that students were being allowed to go home.
Police said they do not believe there is a continued threat to the public. “It is sad but we do train for this. We do have to be prepared for it and this is why."
The motive wasn't immediately released and he had no details on the potential suspects. “Obviously, we threw every resource we had at this. We know that the kids in that school are our community's most precious cargo.”
With PTI inputs.