Drive-by shooting at Colorado park near high school sends 6 teens to hospital; suspects still at large

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Six teenagers were wounded in a shooting involving multiple suspects at a small park close to a high school in Aurora, Colorado. The shooting happened around 12:45 p.m., police spokesperson Matthew Longshore said.

Police Chief Vanessa Wilson said Monday that the six students from Aurora Central High School, ranging in age from 14 to 18, were brought to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. School resource officers responded and applied a tourniquet to one victim, who went into surgery, Wilson said. Investigators found shell casings from different caliber guns and witnesses said there were multiple suspicious vehicles.  Said Wilson: “My understanding is it was a drive-by shooting, as well as there may have been people on foot. I think enough is enough. And I think we need to come together as a community. This is a public health crisis.” 

Aurora Police tweeted that the shooting occurred at Nome Park, just north of Central High School, where officials enacted a secure perimeter. The city of Aurora’s website says Nome Park is .8 acres and features a playground and community garden. Aurora Central High School had more than 2,000 students.