A 17-year-old student was fatally shot Wednesday after leaving Norcross High School, according to officials.
The teenager, DeAndre Henderson, had just left the campus around noon, during school hours, and was on Technology Parkway when he was shot at least once, Gwinnett County police said in a statement Thursday morning. He was taken to a hospital, where he died hours later.
Investigators believe the incident was isolated and that students and staff were not under any threat.
Gwinnett police could not confirm the shooting was the same detailed by administrators and school district officials in messages sent to Norcross High families. However, Henderson was “the only student” that died Wednesday from a shooting “in close proximity to the high school,” police spokeswoman Hideshi Valle told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Credit: John Spink / Jspink@ajc.com
Credit: John Spink / Jspink@ajc.com
No arrest has been made, and police did not release any other details about the case.
In a video, Gwinnett Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Calvin Watts said all students involved in the incident would be held accountable. Authorities have not said how many people were involved in the shooting.
“The gun violence in our community and around the country is unacceptable. It needs to stop,” Watts said. ”This violence is entering our schools from the larger community, and we need to respond together.”
Watts said the district is hiring additional school resource officers and will be bringing together students, parents, staff, law enforcement and other community leaders to develop a solution to ensure students remain safe in the district.
“As a parent, I know the concern and fear these school and community shootings can create,” he said. “We are committed to keeping our schools safe, and when we work together, I know we will be successful.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Gwinnett police detectives at 770-513-5300. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
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