3 highschool graduations across the U.S. end with gunfire in lower than 24 hours

Three highschool commencement ceremonies ended with shots fired in separate incidents in Louisiana, Michigan and Tennessee inside the span of 24 hours, one other sobering instance of gun violence impacting everyday lives, including that of teenage students.

After students crossed phases to receive their diplomas, chaos ensued with gunfire.

No less than one particular person was killed and seven others injured in collective shootings that resulted in the arrest of a 17-year-old gunman in Tennessee.

Pictures had been fired Thursday night time around 8:15 p.m as graduates of Hammond High College were leaving their ceremony held on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University to meet with their households, police mentioned.

4 folks had been injured in the gunfire, all with non-life-threatening accidents, Hammond PD Chief Edwin Bergeron Jr mentioned in a Thursday night information conference. Three were transported to an space hospital.

A suspect was located after a brief foot pursuit and brought into custody, Southeastern Louisiana University Police Chief Michael Beckner advised NBC Information Friday morning.

Fees are pending because the probe continues and all events involved were adults, Beckner said.

Police said Thursday no Hammond Excessive College students are believed to be concerned in the capturing. 

“At this time we do not imagine that there were any students involved, we do not consider any juveniles have been struck on this incident,” Bergeron stated.

Police are asking for witnesses, or individuals with video footage of taking pictures to come ahead. 

There have been Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Workplace deputies on site working security for the graduation who responded to the taking pictures and the “state of affairs was taken below management in a short time," officers stated.

Tangipahoa Parish Superintendent of Faculties, Melissa Martin Stilley, stated Thursday, "We apologize to our households and to our students that this night, which should have been a really completely satisfied occasion for our graduates and their households, ended on such a tragic note."

Hammond Excessive College students may have a virtual college day Friday, though college will go into to high school, she mentioned.

A taking pictures erupted on the East Kentwood High College campus outdoors the football stadium in Michigan on Thursday during a commencement ceremony for Crossroads Alternative Excessive School at around 7:20 p.m., injuring two, the Kent County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Two deputies have been on site working safety for the ceremony, however by the time deputies obtained to the parking lot on foot, “the suspect autos had fled.” 

Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young mentioned in a Thursday night information convention that individuals in two cars have been exchanging gunshots.

She mentioned “a large number of shots” had been fired at the scene.

The sheriff's office stated two victims within the taking pictures were later situated at area hospitals: a 16-year-old from Texas who was shot in the wrist and is in stable condition and a 40-year-old lady from Grand Rapids who was shot in the wrist and abdomen in crucial but stable situation. 

It is not clear if the victims were connected to the commencement.

The sheriff’s workplace believes there have been greater than two people opened fireplace. Initial experiences point out two white sedans with multiple folks inside fled the scene at a high rate of velocity, officials mentioned.

Authorities are additionally asking for witnesses or people with video or picture footage of the incident to submit suggestions. 

A 17-year-old was arrested in a lethal capturing after a commencement ceremony for Riverdale Excessive College held on the Center Tennessee State College campus shortly earlier than 9 p.m. Wednesday as the crowd was leaving. 

Hasani Brewer, 18, was killed and a 17-year-old highschool scholar wounded, police said. Brewer and the teenager who was shot had gotten right into a combat when a third particular person opened hearth, police spokesperson Larry Flowers stated at a news conference.

The suspect, who is also 17, was not identified due to his age. He will be arraigned in juvenile court docket on a first-degree murder charge, Flowers stated.

Brewer was a previous graduate of the highschool, and the wounded teenager is a junior, he mentioned.

“The graduation was just ending, individuals have been leaving, this fight began — so simply imagine the chaos when shots rang out,” Flowers said.

Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.