Florida School Shooting: West Orange High School Student In Critical Condition; Suspect Sought [PHOTO]
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
UPDATE 4:21 p.m. EST: The victim in the West Orange High School shooting has been identified as 15-year-old Ja'Roderick Smith while the suspect was identified as 17-year-old J-Morian Eddie Patrick Bell, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings. Demings said Ja'Roderick is in stable condition. Both victim and suspect are West Orange High School students.
UPDATE 3:36 p.m. EST: A suspect has been detained in the West Orange High School shooting, WFTV reports.
UPDATE 2:56 p.m. EST: The student who was shot recently transferred to West Orange High School, according to WFTV reporter Ryan Hughes.
UPDATE 2:51 p.m. EST: A student who witnessed the shooting said she heard an argument but didn't know what the dispute was about.
"They were fighting, over what I don't know... It's very sad,'' Kaitlyn Hawkins, a 16-year-old West Orange High School student, told the Orlando Sentinel. She said she recognized one of the boys as being recently suspended from the school. She told the paper that the boy who was suspended punched the other boy twice in the face before the shooting.
UPDATE 2:37 p.m. EST: West Orange High School is on lockdown as authorities search for the gunman. The school's president gave the following update on the Winter Garden high school's Facebook page:
"Good afternoon, parents. This is Douglas Szcinski, principal at WOHS. Our school is now on lockdown. We are following all safety procedures and precautions. There has been an incident in which one student was shot. That student is alert and is being transported to the hospital. Law enforcement is on the scene working the situation. We will provide more information as soon as it is available."
There has been conflicting information over where the student was shot. Some say the student was shot on a bus as West Orange High School was letting out classes while others said the shooting took place on the school's soccer practice field.
Original story:
A student at West Orange High School in Florida was reportedly shot Wednesday, according to Orlando television station WFTV.
Orlando NBC affiliate WESH reported that the student is in critical condition. Authorities are still looking for a suspect in the West Orange High School shooting. A spokeswoman for Orange County Public Schools said the student was alert after being shot. The student was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
The shooting reportedly occurred at the West Orange High School soccer practice field and was sparked by an argument between the student and a classmate.
The suspect was described as a black male wearing a pink shirt and white shorts. Authorties told WESH that they believe the suspect has since removed the pink shirt and might be wearing a white tank top.
West Orange High School is located in Winter Garden, Fla.
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