Child wounded in Memphis elementary school shooting; suspect in custody

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - Gunfire erupted Thursday morning at a Memphis school, and police said the student suspect is now in custody.

According to Memphis Police Department, the child fled the scene and turned himself in at the police station.

Officials with Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital said a 13-year-old shooting victim was rushed to their hospital for treatment, WMC reported.

Memphis police reported the victim is in critical condition. No other injuries have been reported.

The age of the suspect has not been released.

Following the shooting, Memphis police cleared the school and moved students and faculty to a staging area.

Students were loaded onto buses to clear the scene. Investigators said parents can pick up their children from Metropolitan Church near Lemoyne-Owen College.

Shelby County Schools said the school is currently on lockdown as a safety precaution, and parents have been notified.

“SCS Security officers are working with law enforcement officers to ensure the safety of our students and employees,” Superintendent Joris Ray said.

Jerica Phillips, a spokesperson for SCS, says Ray rushed to the hospital to be with the family of the victim.

She also said that the school had recently undergone active shooter training.

Cummings K-8 describes itself as a Math Focused Option School, a part of Shelby County Schools that focuses on robotics and coding through partnerships with Building box and Code Crew 901.

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