Child injured in shooting at Memphis K-8 school

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A shooting reported Thursday morning at Cummings School in Memphis left a 13-year-old boy in critical condition, according to police and WHBQ-TV.

>> Read more trending news

The victim was shot inside the school around 9:15 a.m. CDT, police said. The suspected shooter, identified as a fellow Cummings School student, turned himself in after the incident, according to WHBQ.

Update 12:20 p.m. CDT Sept. 30: Assistant Memphis police Chief Don Crowe said police for several agencies responded immediately Thursday morning after getting a call about a shooting inside Cummings School.

Officers found a 13-year-old boy suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital where he was last listed in critical but stable condition, Crowe said.

“Certainly, at this point we need everyone to be praying for that child and that child’s family so he can make a full recovery,” Crowe said at news conference.

Authorities began evacuation procedures as they searched the school Thursday morning. During a secondary search for any people missed as officers swept through the school the first time, the suspected shooter turned himself in to authorities at a police precinct.

“During the course of the investigation, video evidence indicated that our shooter was another student here at the school,” Crowe said. He added that the shooter left the school in a vehicle before turning himself in.

“I know there’s many, many questions, especially (about the) motive and why” the shooting happened, Crowe said. “It’s way too early in the investigation to begin that, but we have detectives on the scene ... they will conduct a very thorough investigation.”

Parents were being reunited with students at Metropolitan Baptist Church after the incident.

Authorities continue to investigate.

Update 11:30 a.m. CDT Sept. 30: The boy injured in Thursday’s shooting has been identified as a 13-year-old Cummings School student, WHBQ-TV reported.

The news station reported he was in critical but stable condition after being shot by a boy inside the school around 9:15 a.m. The shooter is also a student at the school, according to WHBQ.

Update 11:25 a.m. CDT Sept. 30: Police confirmed to WHBQ-TV that the suspect in custody after Thursday’s shooting at Cummings School is another student.

The boy injured in the shooting was in critical but stable condition after the incident, according to WHBQ.

Update 11:20 a.m. CDT Sept. 30: Police told WHBQ-TV that the suspected shooter, identified as a juvenile male, has turned himself in following Thursday’s shooting.

Additional information about the circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately available.

Original report: Officers responded to a report of a shooting at Cummings School at 9:15 a.m. CDT and found a boy who they identified as a “shooting victim.” Authorities transported him to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in critical condition, police said.

In a statement posted around 10:15 a.m., authorities said officers continued to clear the building.

>> Read more on Fox13Memphis.com

“Students and faculty members are being relocated to a staging area,” police said. “No other injuries have been reported.”

Investigators added that they were looking for a male juvenile suspect in connection with the shooting. No arrests were immediately made.

Citing unidentified sources, WHBQ-TV reported that the shooting happened inside the school building.

In a statement obtained by the news station, Shelby County Schools officials said the school remained on lockdown as a safety precaution.

“We are aware of the incident at Cummings K-8 and will share preliminary information as soon as possible,” the statement said. “Parents have been notified of the situation. We are working with SCS Security and the Memphis Police Department to gather more information for further updates.”

©2021 Cox Media Group