Six teenagers who are students at the Aurora Central High School were wounded in a drive-by shooting at a park near the school in Aurora, Colorado. Police Chief Vanessa Wilson said Monday that no one was fortunately killed during the shooting incident, which she said involved multiple suspects.
The victims had included four boys and two girls aged between 14 and 18. Wilson said five of the victims had to be taken to the hospital, while one had driven himself to get treatment.
One of the victims reportedly had to undergo surgery. Police said the other victims had sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Police said they had already contacted and notified the parents of all of the victims about the incident.
Wilson said investigators were on the scene of the shooting, and they had found shell casings from different caliber guns, indicating multiple shooters. Witnesses said they saw multiple vehicles believed to have been used in the drive-by. Police have yet to determine the cause of the shooting or whether the incident was gang-related.
"My understanding is it was a drive-by shooting, as well as there may have been people on foot," Wilson said.
Wilson called the incident the latest in the city's ongoing "public health crisis." She said the police and the community would need to come together to put an end to these types of incidents.
One witness said he had heard multiple gunshots and saw vehicles fleeing from the scene. Another witness said he heard around "30 to 50 shots," claiming that it was difficult to get an accurate count since they happened in succession.
Police spokesperson Matthew Longshore said the shooting happed at around noon. The victims were walking along Nome Park, just a stone's throw away north of the Aurora Central High School. The park has a playground and a community garden, which is frequented by students of the high school. Police have already cordoned off the part and established a secure perimeter in the area.
The Aurora Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying the suspects. Witnesses and those that had captured footage of the incident, including nearby homes with CCTV cameras, have been asked to come forward to help in the investigation. Students from the high school who have information on the possible motive for the shooting have also been asked to contact the police.
Wilson said she hopes students with information or those that know why the shooting happened would be willing to come forward and talk to the police.
Data from the National Center for Education Statistics showed that Aurora Central High School has more than 2,000 students.
