‘Accidental’ Shooting Reported At Huffman High School

At least two people were shot in what police are calling an “accidental” shooting at Huffman High School in Birmingham. One of the victims passed away.

Awful.

At a press conference with Birmingham Police, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Dr. Lisa Herring, officials confirmed a 17-year-old girl was killed in the shooting today.

Herring said Huffman High School will be open tomorrow, and counselors and police will be on campus.

Here’s the statement from the Birmingham City School system:

“Two students were involved in a shooting during dismissal today at Huffman High School. The school was placed on a brief lockdown, and police were called to the scene. Students have been released and police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.”

The details are scarce, but here are the latest updates directly from AL:

Update 6:02 p.m. Huffman will be open, up to parents whether to bring them, Herring said. Press conference is over.

Update 6:01 p.m. Mayor Woodfin: “We lost a person, not just a person, but a student…Someone’s daughter, someone’s best friend.” She was 30 days away from being 18 and had been accepted into college. “We need to wrap our arms around Huffman High School.”

Update 6 p.m. Herring: Full crisis team will be at Huffman High tomorrow, as well as heightened security.

Update 5:57 p.m. Superintendent Lisa Herring says both students are victims.

Update 5:54 p.m. Students are being questioned. Wilson said he did not know of a fight or struggle for the gun before the shots were fired.

Update 5:52 p.m. Chief Wilson did not respond to questions about who fired the shots. He confirmed there are cameras inside the school, and that police will be looking at the footage.

Update 5:50 p.m. Wilson will not confirm report boy shot himself in abdomen while putting gun back in pants after accidentally shooting girl.

Update 5:48 p.m. Unconfirmed info from sources say 10th grade boy may have been showing off gun to girls and it discharged.

Update 5:44 p.m. Birmingham Police Chief Orlando Wilson is first to speak. Offers condolences to victims’ families. “Right now we have a lot of unanswered questions.” Victims were male and female, both 17. The girl was killed.

If this is true, how was this kid able to access a gun and WHY DID HE BRING IT to school in the first place? Nothing about this is OK.

Huffman High School student on shooting https://t.co/44Ypb4FEg7 pic.twitter.com/AHr2Hl1ayV

— #WVTM13 (@WVTM13) March 7, 2018

NEW PIC from inside Huffman high school after accidental shooting, sent to us from a @WBRCnews viewer pic.twitter.com/IpRDCJUsVy

— Jonathan Hardison (@FOX6Hardison) March 7, 2018

My heart is breaking tonight for those hurt and killed in the shooting today at Huffman High School. As we continue to learn more, please pray with me for the victims and their families. https://t.co/d37LS7nhAW

— Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) March 7, 2018

Police: 2 students 'accidentally' shot at Huffman High School in Birmingham.

If guns weren’t in schools, there wouldn’t be 'accidental' school shootings!

— Black Lives Matter (@usblm) March 8, 2018

If you’re one of the morons using this to attempt to make a point about gun control, SIT DOWN. We’re not advocating for freaking CHILDREN to bring guns to school.

My heart breaks for the victim’s families. Truly horrific.