PORTLAND, Ore. — A student of Cleveland High School in Southeast Portland was shot outside of the school on Monday, Portland Public Schools confirmed in a brief statement that afternoon.
Officers from the Portland Police Bureau responded to the school shortly after 12:30 p.m. after someone called 911 to report hearing gunshots in the area.
PPB said that Cleveland High immediately went into lockdown. Officers found evidence of a shooting outside of the school, "partially on school grounds." Witnesses told police that two vehicles may have been involved, but they left the scene before officers arrived.
About 20 minutes after the initial call, a 16-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound walked into a local hospital. Investigators later confirmed that the teen was a Cleveland High School student and had been shot outside of the school.
According to police, the student is expected to survive their injuries.
"It's a terrifying thing," said Cleveland senior, Rio Wynia. "People were shook up. had to go on lock down. It's not a great day."
The following is the full statement released by Portland Public Schools:
"It’s with continued frustration and sadness that we confirm a Cleveland High School student was shot today outside of the school. The student suffered non-life threatening injuries and is recovering.
"The Portland Police Bureau is investigating and asks anyone with information to call the Portland Police non-emergency line at (503) 823-3333. The safety of our students is our foremost priority and we stand in solidarity with those working to prevent senseless acts of gun violence in our community."
PPB's Enhanced Community Safety Team, one of the agency's two gun violence units, responded to take over the investigation. Officers shut down SE Franklin Street between SE 26th and SE 28th for the investigation.
In light of the shooting, district officials canceled classes for Cleveland students on Tuesday. Teachers and staff will meet to plan for supporting students when they return. Cleveland counseling and student support team will be available Tuesday to connect with students after 11:00 a.m. and a “to-go” lunch would be available in the cafeteria during the normal lunch period.
Several students have been injured in shootings outside Jefferson High School in North Portland since the beginning of the school year. Monday's incident was the first known shooting this year to injure a Cleveland High student.
In October, a Portland chef was struck and killed by a semi-truck outside of the school. A Cleveland High School student was hit and injured days later, precipitating a change in posted speeds through the area.
Anyone with information about Monday's shooting is asked to call the (503)823-3333 or email crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 22-329000.