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

Three highschool graduation ceremonies ended with shots fired in separate incidents in Louisiana, Michigan and Tennessee within the span of 24 hours, another sobering example of gun violence impacting everyday lives, together with that of teenage college students.

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

At the very least one person was killed and 7 others injured in collective shootings that resulted in the arrest of a 17-year-old gunman in Tennessee.

Shots were fired Thursday night time round 8:15 p.m as graduates of Hammond High School have been leaving their ceremony held on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University to fulfill with their families, police stated.

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

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

Fees are pending because the probe continues and all parties concerned were adults, Beckner stated.

Police stated Thursday no Hammond High Faculty college students are believed to be involved in the shooting. 

“Right now we don't consider that there were any college students concerned, we do not imagine any juveniles have been struck on this incident,” Bergeron stated.

Police are asking for witnesses, or folks with video footage of capturing to return forward. 

There were Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Workplace deputies on website working safety for the graduation who responded to the shooting and the “scenario was taken underneath management very quickly," officials mentioned.

Tangipahoa Parish Superintendent of Faculties, Melissa Martin Stilley, stated Thursday, "We apologize to our families and to our students that this evening, which should have been a very joyful occasion for our graduates and their families, ended on such a tragic word."

Hammond High School students can have a virtual faculty day Friday, though college will go into to highschool, she stated.

A shooting erupted at the East Kentwood High Faculty campus exterior the soccer stadium in Michigan on Thursday throughout a commencement ceremony for Crossroads Various Excessive College at round 7:20 p.m., injuring two, the Kent County Sheriff’s Workplace said in a press release.

Two deputies had been on website working security for the ceremony, however by the point deputies acquired to the car parking zone on foot, “the suspect vehicles had fled.” 

Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Younger stated in a Thursday night news conference that folks in two vehicles were exchanging gunshots.

She said “a lot of photographs” were fired at the scene.

The sheriff's office mentioned two victims in the capturing were later positioned at area hospitals: a 16-year-old from Texas who was shot within the wrist and is in steady condition and a 40-year-old lady from Grand Rapids who was shot within the wrist and stomach in critical however stable situation. 

It isn't clear if the victims have been related to the graduation.

The sheriff’s office believes there were more than two people opened fire. Preliminary studies indicate two white sedans with multiple people inside fled the scene at a excessive fee of velocity, officers stated.

Authorities are also asking for witnesses or individuals with video or photo footage of the incident to submit tips. 

A 17-year-old was arrested in a lethal taking pictures after a graduation ceremony for Riverdale Excessive Faculty held on the Middle Tennessee State University campus shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday as the gang was leaving. 

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

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

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

“The graduation was just ending, individuals had been leaving, this battle began — so simply think about the chaos when pictures rang out,” Flowers mentioned.

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