4 students shot outside Westinghouse Academy

Westinghouse Academy will continue to learn remotely for the rest of the week, the district said Wednesday. 

"The ordinarily vibrant and thriving school community is still reeling from yesterday's heartbreaking violence that injured four students. Students will log into Microsoft Teams to participate in live synchronous learning and instruction from home. Virtual Student Assistance and Employee Assistance Program support was available today and will remain open to anyone who needs it."

Nina Esposito-Visgitis, the president of the Pittsburgh teachers union, said she has been fielding calls from terrified teachers and administrators since the shooting happened.

Esposito-Visgitis is outraged and insists we as a society have to act now to protect our students and educators or suffer the consequences. The only way to do that, she believes, is by taking the guns off the streets. 

"We all need to say stop to our legislators. Let's get to get here and figure something out," she said. 

"Every one of our kids at every school in every zip code has to be safe every day. And so do all of our teachers. Our teachers are heroes and they certainly proved that yesterday." 

Gainey called to change the law that gives gun manufacturers immunity from lawsuits so as to hold them accountable for the innocent lives that have been harmed by their weapons. 

This morning, Pittsburgh Police are searching for the suspect that shot multiple students just feet from the doors of Westinghouse Academy. 

You can watch my full report below. 

KDKA-TV has obtained surveillance video of the gunfire that erupted outside Westinghouse Academy. In the video, nearly 12 shots can be heard. There was then yelling and students began running. 

A nearby resident who did not want to be identified described Tuesday's chaotic scene. 

"It was so loud. And it was just rapid-fire, then I jump up and look out the door and all I see is school buses scattering and kids running everywhere," they said. 

Sources told KDKA-TV that a witness told police that they saw two individuals in ski masks on foot. No arrests have been made at this time.

"It's too early to tell if this was targeted or random, but we do take the safety of our students very seriously," Pittsburgh Police Zone 5 Commander Stephen Vinansky said. 

People who live near the school said when they heard the gunshots go off in the direction of the school, they were praying no children were involved. 

KDKA-TV's Royce Jones spoke with several people who were home at the time of the shooting. 

Some of them were sitting on their front porch enjoying the weather when the shots rang out. They say they first heard the shots and then quickly saw this block fill up with police.

"I said, 'oh, not again, not again. Lord, please don't let anybody die,'" one neighbor said.  

No one knows how it started but they do know the violence needs to stop.   

"I just pray that we can unify better, not take things personally to the point where we're ready to take a life, because we're all in this together," another said. 

Mayor Ed Gainey released a statement after the shooting at Westinghouse Academy.

"Pittsburgh — please join me in praying for the victims and their families, and for the entire Westinghouse community today.
"Westinghouse is a community filled with scholars and champions, and I want everyone to know and celebrate their accomplishments, and not just focus on the violence we saw today. It is on all of us to show these students that we love and care for them as they recover from this tragedy.
"For too long gun manufacturers have been able to avoid any accountability for their role in our ongoing epidemic of gun violence. Earlier today I called to change the law that gives manufactures immunity from lawsuits so we can hold these manufacturers accountable for the innocent lives that have been harmed by their weapons.
"Our city deserves to have a lasting peace, and that means we have to work to find ways to resolve our conflicts that don't involve using guns and bullets. We can and must do better for our children and for our future."

Pittsburgh Public Schools said a "significant" law enforcement presence is making sure students and staff are safely dismissed after the shooting. 

In a press release, the district said the school was placed on lockdown after the shooting and will now operate remotely on Wednesday. 

The district also said it can't comment any further because it's a "fluid investigation." 

Pittsburgh police gave an update on the shooting they said injured four students -- three boys and a girl -- outside of Westinghouse High School. 

Officers were dispatched for a 10-round ShotSpotter alert around 2:23 p.m., shortly after dismissal time at 2:15 p.m. 

Police said staff took three of the students inside to wait for medical care. A fourth was privately taken to the hospital. 

Police said it's too early to tell if the shooting was targeted or random. No suspects are in custody, and while police said they do have information about a possible suspect vehicle, it's also too early to confirm that information. 

Investigators are now looking at cameras in the area and asking the community for help. 

There will be extra officers at the school in the next couple of weeks.