Live updates: 2 taken to hospital after shooting at Heritage High School in Newport News, suspect not in custody

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) -- Newport News police say two people were shot Monday at Heritage High School.

Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said the two victims' injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. Both victims were 17 years old. A boy was shot in the side of the face, Drew said. A girl was shot in the lower leg.

"Reports I just got from the hospital is that neither [wound] is considered life-threatening, and I thank god for that. That is the most important thing," Drew said.

The school has been evacuated and two other people suffered non gunshot-related injuries.

Drew said that the suspect was not in custody as of 1:30 p.m. but authorities were searching for them. Drew said information indicates that the victims and suspect knew each other and it doesn't appear that the shooter was looking to shoot others.

"We do believe that they knew each other ... I don't believe that this is an individual that is searching the community to hurt members," Drew said. He said he couldn't speculate further.

Pictures outside Riverside Regional Medical Center. 2-5 people brought here. 1 shot in face. 1 shot in leg. We are told non-life-threatening. Several people outside ER we shot these pictures before we were told to leave. @WAVY_News pic.twitter.com/27MSksBemC

— Andy Fox (@AndyFoxWAVY) September 20, 2021

Rumors that there were active shooters at other schools are false, police said.

Students were being evacuated and sent to the school's tennis courts, authorities say. Parents can meet their children there.

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  WAVY's Drone 10 flies over Heritage High School in Newport News after a shooting there on Sept. 20, 2021.

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  Drone 10 over the tennis courts at Heritage High School after a shooting on Sept. 20, 2021. Students were evacuating there.

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  WAVY's Drone 10 flies over Heritage High School in Newport News after a shooting there on Sept. 20, 2021.

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Nearby Achievable Dream Academy was placed on lockdown.

Police first got the call at 11:38 a.m. and there was still a major police presence in the area as 1:45 p.m. The FBI confirmed it is assisting Newport News police and evidence has been collected inside the school.

Important Heritage High school is not just 8-12 graders. 6-7th graders that used to go to Huntington Middle School are also there @WAVY_News

— Brett Hall (@BrettHNews) September 20, 2021

Closely monitoring the horrifying reports of a shooting at Heritage High School in Newport News. Praying for the health and safety of all involved as we wait to learn more.

— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) September 20, 2021

Closely monitoring the situation at Heritage High School in Newport News. Praying for the safety of all involved.

— Terry McAuliffe (@TerryMcAuliffe) September 20, 2021

Shooting — Heritage High School -https://t.co/s6CcjGzwfi

— Newport News Police Department (@NewportNewsPD) September 20, 2021

This is a breaking news story and will be updated. WAVY has a crew at the scene also gathering information.

Black Lives Matter 757 also tweeted it would hold a vigil tonight at 7:57 p.m. in Newport News.

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/2Xvf4Nx