In a shocking incident on Thursday, May 23, a student was shot outside of West Jefferson High School in Harvey, Louisiana. The victim, an 18-year-old male student, sustained non-life threatening injuries, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.

The incident took place around noon, when some students were boarding buses for early dismissal. A parent reported hearing gunshots in the vicinity. Councilman Hans Liljeberg stated that a fight broke out following the last day of school dismissal.

The shooting occurred across the street from the school, in a business parking lot, according to a spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. As a precautionary measure, parents were lined up to pick up their students and were instructed to wait in the gymnasium during a lockdown.

At around 1:45 p.m., students who were walking home from school were dismissed. The investigation into the shooting is still ongoing, and deputies are actively working to identify and locate the suspected gunman.

In response to the incident, Jefferson Parish Schools released a statement assuring that they are fully cooperating with law enforcement and following all safety protocols. They emphasized the safety and well-being of the students as their top priority. The school urges anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.

This unfortunate event serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the security of educational institutions and the need for continued efforts to create a safe learning environment for students. Jefferson Parish Schools will continue to assist law enforcement in their investigation.

As the search for the suspected gunman continues, the community is urged to remain vigilant and report any relevant information to the authorities.