Two people were shot during Cape Central High School graduation ceremony at Show Me Center in Cape Girardeauhttps://t.co/U7rTjgt4mH pic.twitter.com/kOLWfTFAn8Two people were shot at a high school graduation in Missouri on Sunday.
The shooting took place at the Cape Central High School on Southeast Missouri State University’s campus.
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In a statement about the incident, Cape Central High School Superintendent Dr. Howard Benyon said, "During our graduation ceremony today at the Show-Me Center, an altercation occurred forcing us to stop the ceremony and evacuate the building."
According to Benyon, no students or staff were injured in the shooting.
The superintendent added that they will be rescheduling the graduation for a later date.
"We are thankful for the quick response of our school resource officers who were already at the Show-Me Center and for Cape Police Department officers who responded to the call. We will be forced to reschedule the graduation ceremony at a later time. Please be patient with us as we work through this situation. We want to plan an event that celebrates our graduates the way they deserve, but our priority at this time is working with police to aid in their investigation of this situation."
At least one person has been taken into custody.
City of Cape Girardeau Mayor Stacy Kinder attended the ceremony as her son was among the graduating class.
In a letter shared with Heartland News, Kinder wrote, "within seconds of hearing a gunshot, families were fleeing the stands, others were huddled over their loved ones, and terrified graduates were leaving the floor and looking for their parents. It was the most chaotic and scary scene I’ve ever experienced, and to know that so many in the community also experienced that makes it even more traumatic."
"There will be a time for further discussion of the details of what exactly happened today, and why," the mayor continued. "That time is not now, as our law enforcement officials and members of the judicial system are doing their work. Right now, our Central families and students, school officials, and city and county law enforcement officers and leaders need our prayers and support. Today, we are sad for our students, we lament the loss they and their families have experienced, and we mourn the violence we have seen in our city, along with what it is doing to our community. Many will be needed to engage in some work to curtail this kind of violence, but despite today’s lamentations, I am thankful that hope remains. We can and will see a better community through this."
On Thursday evening, a brawl broke out on the stage of a Tennessee high school graduation after a graduate flashed gang signs and another threw his diploma at him.
According to a report from the local News Channel 3, "a school security officer saw one of the students walk past another student and begin throwing up gang signs. That is when the student threw a graduation binder at the victim."
"As the first student was being held back, the victim jumped over three rows of seats and began hitting him. Two other students jumped into the fight," the report continued. "One of the students involved was pepper sprayed during the incident. There were no other visible injuries."
The students involved were released to their parents after being given Juvenile Summons or Misdemeanor Citations.
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