CHICAGO, ILLINOIS — Four people were shot at a high school Friday afternoon on Chicago’s West Side, according to police.
The shooting occurred around 2:30 p.m. outside Benito Juárez High School in the 1900 block of South Laflin Street.
According to the Chicago Police Department, two people were killed and two others were injured.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified one of the boys who died as 15-year-old Brandon Perez.
Nicasio Rogel, a crossing guard and parent who has a student attending the school, said WGN, local NewsNation affiliate students were being dismissed when he heard multiple gunshots.
He said the students were told to go back to school.
Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said multiple times during an evening news conference that the department is not at a point in the investigation to respond to whether the people injured were students.
“I feel sick,” Rogel said. “I feel angry because these are things that shouldn’t be happening at school. Children come to school to be educated and to gain tools for the future. It’s not good what’s happening here.”
Chicago Public Schools issued the following statement Friday night.
The safety of our school community is our top priority. This afternoon, we received reports of gunshots outside Benito Juárez High School shortly after dismissal. The Chicago Police Department (CPD) and paramedics quickly responded to the scene. CPS remains in close contact with CPD and this incident is under investigation. The CPS Office of Safety and Security and other District leaders are working closely with school leaders and staff, as well as CPD, to gather information and respond to this incident. CPS will keep Benito Juárez families, as well as the community at large, updated. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy.
Chicago Public Schools
“Schools are the cornerstone of neighborhoods and students deserve to feel safe,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a tweet. “My heart goes out to the family and friends of those who lost their lives today and I pray for a full recovery for those injured. MK and I are thinking of the entire community of Benito Juárez. We must end these unspeakable tragedies and rid our communities of gun violence.”
in a cheepSen. Dick Durbin, D-IL, responded to news of the shooting by saying he is “heartbroken for the family who will be celebrating the holidays” without their loved one.
“And keeping the other three victims in my prayers,” Durbin tweeted. “There was progress in Congress this year. But now that gun violence is the leading cause of death among America’s children, we must do more.”
Rep. Chuy Garcia, who is running for mayor of Chicago, said his heart breaks for the victims of the shooting.
“Parents send their children to school hoping for their safe return home,” he said in a tweeted statement. “Instead, shots were heard as the students were leaving for the weekend. For our children and our communities, the trauma of gun violence has become familiar. We can’t go on like this.”
State Senator Javier Cervantes called the news of the shooting “horrifying” and he is “deeply saddened” for the victims, families and community.
“This act of violence is extremely heartbreaking. Our community is strong and we have to support each other in this difficult time,” Cervantes said in a statement.