Three Shot At A High School In Portland, Oregon, Police Say

Three people were shot at an alternative high school in Portland, Oregon, on Friday afternoon, local police reported. According to the police, the victims -- two boys and a girl, believed to be students -- were breathing and conscious when they were put on gurneys and taken to a hospital.

The shooting occurred shortly after noon on a corner near Rosemary Anderson High School in north Portland. The assailant fled the scene, but police are saying it is “not an active shooter” situation. Police suspect the incident may have been a gang-related attack.

According to Sgt. Pete Simpson of the Portland police, the victims ran back to the school for help after being shot. According to early reports from the Oregonian, one of the victims was a 17-year-old male shot in the back, while a female student was shot in the chest. All three victims were taken to Legacy Emanuel Health Center.

The shooter never entered the school, but nearby Jefferson High School and Portland Community College were put on lockdown after news of the shooting, authorities said. Police are searching for a suspect, but they have not released any descriptions and no arrests have been made.

A witness who lives near the school, Tamara King, told the Oregonian that she was standing on the corner of North Killingsworth Court when she heard five shots in rapid progression. She saw several children dive under a car to avoid gunfire. King called 911.

Parents were called to the school. Mayor Charlie Hales arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting.

Rosemary Anderson High School serves about 190 at-risk or struggling students who have been expelled, dropped out, are homeless or are single parents.

There was another shooting at a high school in Troutdale, about 12 miles east of Portland, in June. The shooter, a 15-year-old freshman, killed a 14-year-old student and then himself.