Pittsburgh police searching for two suspects after 15-year-old shot and killed in school van
A 15-year-old student who was shot in a school van just before dismissal Wednesday has died, Pittsburgh Public Safety tweeted. Police are still searching for two suspects in the shooting.
Commander Richard Ford said the shooter walked up to the van, which was parked outside of Pittsburgh Oliver Citywide Academy, and shot into it around 1:30 p.m. The only two people in the van were the student and the driver, Ford said at a news conference.
The victim was believed to have been shot twice in the chest area, Ford said. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital where he later died. The driver was not injured, police said.
Pittsburgh Public Schools interim superintendent Wayne N. Walters said Wednesday evening that the boy had been a student at the school since third grade. Staff told Walters that the student loved school.
"His smile was contagious and lit up a room. His sense of humor was infectious. And the staff member said the staff are inconsolable at this time because they loved him so much," Walters said.
All students were brought inside and the school was placed on lockdown while police searched the area for the suspects, who are considered armed and dangerous. Ford said the suspects left the area, and police believe they know the direction in which they fled.
The school reopened and police were clearing the scene just after 3 p.m., Pittsburgh Public Safety tweeted.
Ford described the suspects as being two young males dressed in dark clothing and masks. Police believe the weapon used in the shooting was a handgun.
At this time it is not clear if the victim and the suspects had any sort of relationship, or if the victim was targeted. Ford said they are speaking to witnesses and reviewing video from nearby buildings.
Senator Bob Casey tweeted that he is "following this horrible situation closely and my team has reached out to local officials to offer support."
