A 13-year-old boy died and a 15-year-old boy was injured in the shooting, police said
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NEED TO KNOW
- A 13-year-old in Missouri is facing murder and assault charges following a shooting at a high school track meet on March 31
- A 13-year-old boy died and a 15-year-old boy was injured in the shooting, according to police
- Police said on April 1 that they have yet to establish a motive for the shooting and that the investigation is active and ongoing
A 13-year-old is facing murder and assault charges following a deadly shooting in Missouri that left one teen dead and another hospitalized.
According to police in Ferguson, located just outside St. Louis, the shooting broke out in the parking lot of STEAM Academy at McCluer South Berkeley High School just after 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday, March 31, as a track and field meet was ending.
"Ferguson officers responded to a call for shots fired at approximately 7:02 p.m. and quickly located two juvenile victims suffering from gunshot wounds," police said in a statement.
Both victims — a 13-year-old male and a 15-year-old male — were taken to a local hospital. The 13-year-old was pronounced dead, and the second victim was "hospitalized in serious condition," police said.
The alleged shooter was found, along with a weapon, about two blocks from the school and was taken into custody by Ferguson police.
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Police said on Wednesday, April 1, that they have yet to establish a motive for the shooting and that the investigation is active and ongoing.
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“This is a heartbreaking incident that has deeply impacted our community, especially the families and students connected to this tragedy,” Chief Troy Doyle said in a press release. “We extend our sincere condolences to the victim’s family and ask the community to keep all those affected in their thoughts.”
The St. Louis County Family Court also said on Wednesday that it had issued formal charges against the 13-year-old in connection with the shooting, including second-degree murder, first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.
In a statement shared on social media after the shooting, the Ferguson-Florissant School District said that the track meet involved students from 20 participating schools, and that the shooting broke out as attendees were leaving the event.
"We want to reassure our families that no Ferguson-Florissant students or families were involved. We understand that situations like this can feel unsettling, and we are saddened to have something happen so close to our schools," the district wrote. "We are grateful to our local law enforcement partners for their quick action. The safety of our students and staff will continue to be our top priority."
The 13-year-old suspect — whose name has not been made public due to their age — is currently in the custody of the St. Louis County Family Court, officials said.
Authorities encouraged anyone with information related to the shooting to contact the Ferguson Police Department at 314-522-3100.
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