One student shot at Wilmington high school, evacuations underway, sheriff says
Students and staff at New Hanover High School in Wilmington, N.C., have been evacuated after a student was shot Monday morning, authorities confirmed.
J.J. Brewer, spokesperson for the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, said that one male student was shot and taken to the hospital. Brewer could not provide any information on the student’s condition over the phone.
The student was shot about 11:30 a.m., Brewer said. He said police have identified some information about a suspect, but none that can be released to the public.
Brewer said he did not know whether the suspect was affiliated with the school.
As of about 2 p.m., some New Hanover students were available for pickup by family members. Evacuated students are being released in groups to the MLK Center at 401 S. 8th Street, where parents can pick them up, according to the New Hanover Schools Facebook page
Students who don’t have rides arranged will be able to take the bus this afternoon, according to the school district’s Facebook.
Immediately after the shooting, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office escorted students to Williston Middle School, where they remained until authorities completed a headcount to ensure all students were accounted for, according to an earlier post from the New Hanover County Schools Facebook page.
Just before 1 p.m., the New Hanover Sheriff’s twitter account said it is searching the high school to ensure that all students have been evacuated.
“The Sheriff’s office has confirmed this is NOT an active shooter situation,” according to the school district’s Facebook post.
“Williston Middle School and Gregory Elementary are safely under a shelter in place. Students from these two schools are not being released to families at this time,” the earlier post read.
Elementary and middle school dismissal will proceed normally, the post said.
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This is a developing story and we will provide updates as soon as information becomes available.
This story was originally published August 30, 2021 at 1:37 PM.
