US

Boy, 13, critically injured after being shot at US school as second pupil detained

A 13-year-old boy is in a critical condition in hospital after being shot at a school in Memphis, Tennessee.

The suspected shooter, whose age has not been revealed, was a fellow pupil, according to police.

He was thought to have fled the scene after the attack but later turned himself in at a police station.

Concerned relatives of school children wait at a church that is serving as a staging area after a shooting at Cummings School, on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 in Memphis, Tenn. Authorities say a boy was shot and wounded at the school. Police say the boy was taken to a hospital in critical condition and authorities are looking for a second boy who they believe to be the shooter. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz)
PIC:AP
Image:
Concerned relatives of schoolchildren wait at a church where students were taken

The shooting happened at about 9.15am on Thursday at the Cummings Elementary School, the Memphis Police Department said.

The injured boy was taken to hospital.

Assistant police chief Don Crowe said of the victim: “Certainly, at this point, we need everyone to be praying for that child and the child’s family so he can make a full recovery.”

Both the victim and suspected shooter were described as “male juveniles” by police.

More on Tennessee

Their identities have not been made public.

No-one else was reported to be injured in the incident.

The school was locked down and other students were taken by bus to a nearby church to be reunited with worried parents.

Concerned relatives of school children wait at a church that is serving as a staging area after a shooting at Cummings School, on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 in Memphis, Tenn. Authorities say a boy was shot and wounded at the school. Police say the boy was taken to a hospital in critical condition and authorities are looking for a second boy who they believe to be the shooter. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz)
PIC:AP
Image:
Parents were being reunited with their children at the church

Ebonnie Hayslett went to the school to make sure her two nieces were safe.

She said: “The worst news you could receive is a shooting at a kids school.

“My main concern was the kids being okay, the teachers, the faculty.

“No one wants to go pick up their kids and be surrounded by SWAT cars and police officers.”