Andrew Jackson High School students faced extra security after teen was shot outside the school

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Students saw extra security Thursday, one day after a teen was shot outside Andrew Jackson High School.

A 911 call to police indicated the teen who was shot was brought to the front office to wait for help.

“The student, they were shot outside the school. They brought him in the front office,” a 911 caller told dispatch.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the 17-year-old is expected to be OK.

School dismissal looked a lot different Thursday afternoon than Wednesday. Everyone was safe and police were spotted outside the school all day. There is also a Crime Stoppers sign on the sidewalk.

Students told News4JAX that they felt fine coming back to school with all the extra security. They were met with more officers and bag checks. One student said, “It was kind of down today like the whole school was sad and shocked.”

Another student said, “I’m not scared but I am worried because he was my friend.”

Detectives are searching for a light-colored SUV that was involved in the drive-by shooting outside the school. Police say someone shot the teen as he was walking on the sidewalk.

Students, parents and neighbors heard the gunshots.

A neighbor who didn’t want to be identified said, “I heard the shots, multiple shots and I knew they were not firecrackers. I observed the children running in fear. It was chaotic. The parents were in fear and afraid.”

Some parents chose to keep their children home from school. Diallo-Sekou said he felt safe sending his son to school and kept in touch with him throughout the day.

One of the shooting victim’s friends said, “He’s an amazing person. He’s really funny, he’s a good friend. He’s overprotective.”

The friend went on to say, “What I would want him to know is that we’re waiting on him and I hope he is ok.’

District police say they do have upgraded security at the school for the foreseeable future. At this time, no arrests have been made.


About the Author:

Corley Peel is a Texas native and Texas Tech graduate who covered big stories in Joplin, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jacksonville, Florida before returning to the Lone Star State. When not reporting, Corley enjoys hot yoga, Tech Football, and finding the best tacos in town.