Two Students Shot at Texas Middle School

Two students were wounded by gunfire during basketball tryouts at a Texas middle school on Monday, the >Associated Press reports. Authorities suspect that hunters may be responsible.

Two boys, ages 13 and 14, were shot while playing basketball outside of Harvell Middle School, said Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino in a statement. School was not in session at the time, but Edinburg school district spokesman Gilbert Tagle said that several after-school activities were going on at the time, and roughly 200 children could have been on campus.

One of the gunshot victims, a 14-year-old boy, is said to be in critical condition with a bullet embedded in one of his organs. The other boy, the 13-year-old, is believed to be in stable condition after undergoing surgery to remove the bullet.

According to a report by The Brownsville Herald, three hunters are now in police custody after the shooting. Authorities say that it is not yet known whether the gunshots that left two boys in the hospital was an accident or deliberate.

Trevino said that the shots occurred at around 4:45 pm and originated from a field west of the school, which authorities suspect was leased for deer hunting. One of the students was shot while trying to perform a layup, and the other was shot while sitting on a bench awaiting his turn.

Harvell Middle School was placed on lockdown immediately following the shooting.

Source: Associated Press

[Image credit: AP Photo – The Monitor, Delcia Lopez]