Update: 7:39 a.m. Thursday
Pittsburgh police have charged a 16-year-old student with shooting three others outside a high school, allegedly in retaliation for a drug-related robbery inside the school last month.
None of the students wounded minutes after Brashear High School dismissed classes Wednesday has life-threatening injuries. Police say two were grazed by bullets, while one was shot in the arm and foot. Police say a fourth was targeted but not hurt.
The school, with about 1,400 students, will be open the rest of the week on a modified lockdown, restricting the building to students, teachers and visitors with prearranged appointments.
Police Lt. Kevin Kraus says the alleged shooter, Anjohnito Willett, shot the others as revenge for the Oct. 18 incident. He was in custody Wednesday. It wasn't known if he has an attorney.
— The Associated Press
Earlier story: Wednesday's Developments
Pittsburgh officials say two more people are in custody in a shooting that wounded three students outside a city high school, bringing the total to six who were brought in for questioning.
Spokeswoman Diane Richard says police believe the shooting outside Brashear High School after classes ended Wednesday might stem from a drug-related dispute between students at the school last month.
Pittsburgh public safety director Michael Huss said Wednesday that six people are in custody. Richard says those in custody are not suspects or necessarily going to be charged. Police aren't saying whether they're also students.
The victims are all boys. Two are 17 and one is 16 years old. None were seriously wounded. Police say the victims were not immediately cooperating with investigators.
Police responded to the scene just minutes after school had let out for the day. Several students were still in the building for afterschool activities.
According to Richard the shooting might be linked to a fight, possibly drug-related, at Brashear High School on Oct. 18 which led to heightened security at the school for a week. She said one of the students involved in the altercation no longer attends Brashear. It was not immediately clear how many shooters were involved.
For a time police closed streets in the area including Crane Avenue between Tropical and Saw Mill Run. Investigators were expected to be on the scene well into the evening.
Acting Pittsburgh Police Chief Regina McDonald commended the district for the way it reacted to the incident, especially they way school staff allowed students back inside the building to take shelter.
Brashear High School has an enrollment of more than 1,200 students, making it the largest school in the district.
In a written statement, Mayor-elect Bill Peduto said he has been in close contact with Public Safety Director Michael Huss regarding the shootings.
"Consistent with requests by city police, we advise all residents in the area to lock their homes and stay indoors, while the police continue to search for the perpetrators," Peduto said.
Peduto is currently in Seattle attending the National League of Cities Conference, where he is re-enrolling the city in the organization.
