Six teenagers were injured in a shooting at a park in Aurora in U.S. state of Colorado on Monday, police said.
The shooting occurred at noon at Nome Park, which is near Aurora Central High School, according to the Aurora Police Department.
A total of five people, ages 14 to 17, were transported to the hospital after the shooting, said the Aurora Police Department initially in a tweet. About two hours later, police said in another tweet that an 18-year-old self-transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
The department said the incident did not happen inside of the school but just north at Nome Park. Police initially tweeted that the high school was on lockdown but later switched to say the school was only on a secure perimeter.
All six victims are students at Aurora Central High School, reported KCNC-TV.
“I want to thank the school resource officers who were among the first on the scene and provided life-saving measures,” Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson was quoted as saying by the news outlet, adding that the injuries may be non-life threatening but that one student was undergoing emergency surgery.
The police chief called the event “a public health crisis” and “we need to find a way to get through to our kids.”
Police said the suspect, who is no longer on scene, is still unknown.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman made this statement on youth violence following the shooting:
“A shooting today in a park by Aurora Central High School has left six young people hospitalized. My prayers are with the injured and their families. As the facts surrounding this incident become known, I look forward to hearing from our Chief of Police and from our District Attorney about what actions will be taken to apprehend and prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, those responsible for this incident. The most important function of government is the protection of its people and I strongly believe that public safety must always be the top priority for this city”.
(With inputs from agencies)
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