FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – An investigation is underway Thursday morning after a 15-year-old was shot near Greenberg Elementary School at an apartment in southeast Fresno, according to the Fresno Police Department.
Police say they responded to the area of Lane and Peach avenues in southeast Fresno after a “ShotSpotter” activation was reported around 7:45 a.m. of 11 shots being fired in the area.
Police say a juvenile was taken into custody for the shooting and was positively identified.
“A very alert teacher, saw somebody, heard the shots fired, and then heard or saw the suspect jumping a fence onto the school parking and immediately told the principal what she had seen, and then the principal immediately detained the juvenile before he made it any further onto the school campus,” said Sgt. Diana Trueba Vega with the Fresno Police Department.
Investigators say the weapon was found in the suspect’s backpack.
The suspect’s mom told YourCentralValley.com that she got a call this morning because her 12-year-old son attends the school; she was told that there was a shooting and that he jumped the gate.
“The principal asked to go through his backpack and they found a firearm,“ says Mom. “I haven’t been able to talk to him. I seen him in the back of a police car, but they wouldn’t allow me to talk to him because he’s under arrest.”
Greenberg Elementary was placed on lockdown while police investigated the incident. Officers say the lockdown was placed “out of an abundance of caution” while they worked to establish that the campus was safe.
Police say the teen was shot in the leg and side and was transported to a local hospital; he is expected to recover from his injuries. Detectives believe the victim, said to be around 15 years old, was targeted in the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fresno Police Department at (559) 621-7000.
