1 Hillside High student killed, another injured in shooting in Durham, police say
A Hillside High School student who was shot Wednesday afternoon near the American Tobacco Trail has died, Durham police said.
A second teen, also a student at Hillside High, was injured, the Durham Police Department said.
The shooting happened in the vicinity of Hillside, the Durham School of Technology and W.G. Pearson Magnet Elementary, but did not happen on any of the school campuses, police said. There was no “active shooter,” and police have not identified a suspect.
The teens, both male, were taken to the hospital.
Hillside Principal William Logan confirmed in a message to families Wednesday evening that the two teens attended the school but that the incident took place about a quarter-mile from campus.
“They and their families are in our thoughts and prayers,” according to the message.
On Thursday, Durham Public Schools Superintendent Pascal Mubenga also shared a statement:
“I am heartsick about the loss of one of our students,” he said. “His family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers — but we need more than thoughts and prayers. Our students are clamoring for an end to gun violence, and our community must come together to deliver it.”
The schools were briefly placed on “secure status” Wednesday afternoon, which means students could move within the school building, but people could not enter or exit, police said at 2:26 p.m. The Police Department had previously said the schools were locked down.
Just before 3 p.m., police announced that the secure status at both schools had been lifted.
The shooting happened between Fayetteville Street and Riddle Road, police tweeted shortly after 1:20 p.m. Riddle Road was closed from Fayetteville Street to Alfred Street.
Logan’s message said there will be “increased law enforcement presence” at school on Thursday. Counselors will be available for students.
The fatal shooting was the second in Durham this week, since police said 38-year-old Gregory Newsome was fatally shot Sunday east of downtown.
Shootings in Durham declined last year, with 247 people shot, 41 of them fatally, according to police statistics.
Those numbers were down from 278 people shot with 44 fatalities in 2021.
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This story was originally published February 8, 2023 at 2:25 PM.
