LANSING, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) – Westside Neighborhood community members are calling for answers after two high school students were shot in broad daylight near Riddle Elementary School on Tuesday.
At approximately 3:15 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, Lansing police responded to reports of shots fired and found two 16-year-olds outside with gunshot wounds.
“It’s astonishing that this is happening in our neighborhood and we’re devastated to see it,” said Heath Lowry, a local resident and president of the Westside Neighborhood Association.
Lansing police said Thursday that one teen is in critical condition and another is stable, but they don’t have anyone in custody. Lowry said the response to another shooting in this neighborhood has some neighbors concerned about safety.
“We also have many neighbors who are committed to preventing these kinds of things and want to take action. We can no longer stand by and watch as this violence, which is mainly caused by young people, continues to occur in our neighborhood,” Lowry said.
Safety is not the only concern raised by this incident.
Marcia Medina, who lives nearby and whose children attend schools in the Lansing School District, said she found the school district’s statement particularly vague.
“It said that the students were seriously injured. It didn’t say that it was a gun attack. It didn’t say that it happened on the property, or at least very close to Riddle Elementary,” Medina said.
In a letter to parents from Lansing School District, Superintendent Ben Shuldiner wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of an unfortunate incident involving two of our Sexton High School students. Yesterday, while walking home from school, they were seriously injured.”
“You know, this wasn’t a fistfight. Somebody didn’t fall into a well,” Medina said.
Both Lowry and Medina indicate that they don’t necessarily want a larger police presence in the neighborhood, but rather a more cohesive and connected community.
“We all feel a responsibility. We have two schools in the area and we want to make sure that they remain nice places for children,” Lowry said.
Elle Meyers
