Student, Security Guard Shot Outside Wendell Phillips Academy High School In Bronzeville
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A student and a security guard were wounded Tuesday afternoon in a shooting outside Wendell Phillips Academy High School in the Bronzeville neighborhood.
According to unconfirmed police dispatch reports, the shooting happened shortly after 3 p.m., around dismissal time, outside of the school, which is located at 244 E. Pershing Rd.
The shooter was standing outside at dismissal. As the security guard opened door, shots were fired, hitting him. Bullets injured the girl, who was also standing outside. The student is in critical condition. The security guard was listed in fair condition.
"It just sounded like it was right there at the door," said Phillips Academy student Dianna Taylor heard the shots around 3:20 p.m.a s school was letting out
Chicago Fire Department officials said a security guard, who appears to be in his 40s, was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, but his condition was not immediately available.
A 14-year-old girl was taken to Comer Children's Hospital in critical condition. CBS 2's Dana Kozlov spoke to family members at the hospital who said the girl was shot twice. She was conscious but heading into surgery. The student is a freshman and they did not know the circumstances that led to the shooting. An aunt was near the school, picking up her children, when she heard the shots. At the time, she was also looking to pick up the teenager, but drove around the corner to avoid the shooting.
Family told CBS 2 that many members were at a cemetery honoring another relative whose birthday is today. He was shot and killed six years ago. They got the call about the 14-year-old while they were there.
Parents frantically rushed to the school as they got word of the shooting.
"As a mom I'm just thankful my baby is safe," said Michelline Joseph. "I was like are you OK and he was like yeah mom I'm safe but we just had a shooting. He said he was in the hallway when it happened."
Police said no one is in custody.
Last year, the school chose to remove both of its armed school resource officers—who are members of the Chicago Police Department.
