Authorities confirmed that multiple people have been shot near Mount Zion High School in Jonesboro, Georgia on Friday evening, across the street from an alternative learning school’s graduation ceremony.
A report from Atlanta NBC affiliate 11 Alive cited the Clayton County Fire Department, which confirmed that three people, all women, were taken to nearby medical facilities after the attack at the Mount Zion HS parking lot, including one who died while being transported to Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale, Georgia. The other two victims were transported to different hospitals in the area, though details on their condition remain unknown as of the moment.
According to officials, a 21-year-old female victim suffered gunshot wounds to the leg and was taken to Atlanta Medical Center, while another adult female was taken to Piedmont Henry Hospital. As noted by 11 Alive , the second woman, who was pregnant, was not shot, but suffered injuries after she was pushed. The woman who was pronounced dead was shot three times in the chest, and was in her early 40s.
In a subsequent update, 11 Alive wrote that the shooting took place after the Perry Learning Center, an alternative learning high school, completed its graduation ceremonies at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center, which is located across the street from Mount Zion High School. Police officials said the shooting started after an argument erupted in Mount Zion’s parking lot, but did not mention the possible cause of the dispute.
#BREAKING : Clayton County Police tell Channel 2 Action News that multiple people were shot at Mount Zion High School – https://t.co/q5ziGz7cQN
@JustinWilfonWSB is headed to the scene to learn more information | WATCH The Channel 2 Action News #Nightbeat at 11 for LIVE updates pic.twitter.com/CNBmyAcGrd
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) May 19, 2018
Mount Zion High School has yet to comment on the shooting, but the Principal’s Message on the school’s website leaves a clear warning telling students not to bring any type of deadly weapon to any school-related activity, and to tell authorities if they see anyone carrying such weapons.
“Message regarding school safety: Everyone must feel safe at school, on the school bus, or at school activities, day or night. Students shall not bring the following weapons at any time: knives, mace (protective spray device), tasers, incendiary devices, guns (including a starter gun, look alike weapons or any object appearing to be a gun), and explosives. Remember, Safety Is Everyone’s Responsibility, so IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING!”
No gunman has been arrested as of this writing, but the Atlanta Journal Constitution wrote that police are currently searching for at least one suspect in the shooting.
News of the shooting near Mount Zion High School comes hours after a suspected gunman identified as 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis allegedly killed 10 people, including nine students and one teacher, and injured 10 others on Friday morning at Santa Fe High School in southeastern Texas. Pagourtzis surrendered to police following the attack, and has been cooperating with authorities, supposedly telling an investigator that he chose to spare people whom he liked “because he wanted his story told,” according to a report from CNN .
