Student Shoots Himself In Leg Inside West Philadelphia School With Metal Detectors, Police Say
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- An 18-year-old male student suffered what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg at a school in West Philadelphia, police say. It happened around 1 p.m. Friday at the Philadelphia Learning Academy on the 4300 block of Westminster Avenue in Belmont.
Officers found the male student suffering from one gunshot wound to the leg and police say at this time it is believed to be self-inflicted.
The student was transported to an area hospital and placed in stable condition.
The incident happened inside a gymnasium in the school.
Police say the school has students from grades 7 through 12 and there are 170 people in total occupying the building -- that includes students and staff members.
Everyone inside the school was evacuated and held outside the building in the courtyard while police investigated.
"Responding officers located a male 18 years old. He's a student at the school," Police Sgt. Eric Gripp said. "He was shot one time in the left leg. At this time we believe it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It occurred inside a gymnasium inside the school."
Police are still searching for the weapon.
Metal detectors are inside the school and police are still trying to figure out how the student was able to get the gun inside the building.
A spokesperson for the Philadelphia School District says they believe the student was wearing an ankle bracelet that went off when he passed through metal detectors causing staff to not look any further.
The shooting marked the second time this week a student was shot in or near a school.
"When you have inadequate staffing and you're not properly able to man the schools then children feel like they have to fend for themselves," Robin Cooper, president of the district's principal's union, said.
Cooper says school leaders are concerned and need assistance as gun violence continues to take a toll on the city.
"We're saying for our role and for the school district, for the city, the state to properly fund where we can have people on hand and our schools can truly be safe havens," Cooper said.
The Philadelphia School District said in a statement, in part, "The possession of firearms or any other weapon by a student in school is not tolerated by the School District of Philadelphia. As per our Code of Conduct, in all cases involving a firearm, the student will be detained and arrested."
No one else was injured in the shooting.
There's no word on any charges at this time.
CBS3's Jasmine Payoute contributed to this report.
