After a Colorado Springs high school student was shot during his off campus lunch break, the school is taking action to tighten security at times when students are typically allowed the leave school property.
Last Friday, a fight broke out shortly before noon between three Doherty High School students and at least two other people in a car in a parking lot across the street from the school, reports the Gazette.
Police say one person got out of the car and fired several shots, hitting one of the students. Police posted a tweet Friday night saying the shooting was “not a random event”.
Lieutenant Howard Black says police have not yet released information about the shooter or the vehicle because witnesses have given conflicting descriptions.
The shooting prompted a shelter-in-place at the school until around 1:40 p.m., says District 11 spokeswoman Devra Ashby. Following the lift of the lockdown, a phased release was implemented and parents had to show identification in order to dismiss their children.
Two nearby elementary schools were also placed on lockdown for about an hour.
On Sunday, Principal Kevin Gardner sent a letter to parents outlining security changes the school has made following the shooting.
School doors will be closed during lunch and free periods, prohibiting students from leaving school grounds during those times.
The school has made necessary changes to accommodate more students during lunch, including adding a second lunch period.
The letter also says there will be a heavy police presence from both Colorado Springs Police and District 11. Therapy dogs and a crisis counseling team will also be available.
If a student has an appointment, a parent will have to enter the school and sign out their child. Students will also need to carry an ID with them at all times.
“In conclusion, I want to reaffirm Doherty High School’s and District 11’s commitment to safety and security for all of our students and staff. I do not take these steps lightly, but do so in an overabundance of caution for our school community. This has been a challenging situation for our entire school community,” Gardner says in the letter.
As of Monday, the suspect has not been caught and police still haven’t released a description.
The student who was shot has since been released from the hospital, according to KOAA.