3 high school graduations throughout the U.S. end with gunfire in lower than 24 hours

Three high school graduation ceremonies ended with shots fired in separate incidents in Louisiana, Michigan and Tennessee inside the span of 24 hours, one other sobering example of gun violence impacting everyday lives, together with that of teenage students.

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

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

Shots had been fired Thursday evening around 8:15 p.m as graduates of Hammond Excessive Faculty have been leaving their ceremony held on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University to meet with their households, police stated.

Four folks have been injured in the gunfire, all with non-life-threatening injuries, Hammond PD Chief Edwin Bergeron Jr said in a Thursday night news convention. Three have been transported to an space hospital.

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

Fees are pending as the probe continues and all events concerned had been adults, Beckner said.

Police said Thursday no Hammond Excessive School students are believed to be concerned in the shooting. 

“At the moment we don't believe that there have been any students concerned, we don't consider any juveniles have been struck on this incident,” Bergeron mentioned.

Police are asking for witnesses, or folks with video footage of shooting to come forward. 

There were Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Workplace deputies on site working safety for the commencement who responded to the shooting and the “state of affairs was taken underneath management very quickly," officials mentioned.

Tangipahoa Parish Superintendent of Schools, Melissa Martin Stilley, mentioned Thursday, "We apologize to our families and to our students that this night time, which should have been a really blissful occasion for our graduates and their families, ended on such a tragic be aware."

Hammond High Faculty students could have a digital faculty day Friday, although school will go into to school, she stated.

A taking pictures erupted on the East Kentwood High College campus outside the football stadium in Michigan on Thursday throughout a commencement ceremony for Crossroads Alternative Excessive Faculty at round 7:20 p.m., injuring two, the Kent County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned in a press release.

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

Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young said in a Thursday evening information convention that people in two vehicles were exchanging gunshots.

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

The sheriff's workplace said two victims within the taking pictures were later located at space hospitals: a 16-year-old from Texas who was shot in the wrist and is in stable situation and a 40-year-old lady from Grand Rapids who was shot within the wrist and abdomen in vital however stable condition. 

It isn't clear if the victims were connected to the commencement.

The sheriff’s office believes there have been more than two people opened fire. Preliminary reports point out two white sedans with multiple individuals inside fled the scene at a high charge of velocity, officers said.

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

A 17-year-old was arrested in a deadly taking pictures after a commencement ceremony for Riverdale Excessive School held on the Middle Tennessee State University campus shortly earlier than 9 p.m. Wednesday as the gang was leaving. 

Hasani Brewer, 18, was killed and a 17-year-old high school scholar wounded, police mentioned. Brewer and the teenager who was shot had gotten into a battle when a third particular person opened fireplace, police spokesperson Larry Flowers said at a information conference.

The suspect, who can be 17, was not identified because of his age. He can be arraigned in juvenile court docket on a first-degree homicide charge, Flowers stated.

Brewer was a previous graduate of the high school, and the wounded teenager is a junior, he stated.

“The commencement was just ending, individuals have been leaving, this struggle began — so just imagine the chaos when pictures rang out,” Flowers mentioned.

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