What happened at Heritage High School?

OFFICIALS are responding to a “major incident” reported at Heritage High School on Monday, September 20, 2021.

Officers are gathering more information to determine what exactly happened at the Virginia school, reportedly. 

What happened at Heritage High School?

At 11.38am, officers in Newport News, Virginia responded to what school district officials called a “major incident” at Heritage High School.

Two 17-year-olds were shot at the school but their injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew revealed. 

One of the victims was a boy who was shot in the side of the face and the other was a girl, who was shot in the lower leg, reportedly. Two other people suffered injuries non-gunshot related.

As of 2.30pm, officials revealed the suspect was in custody but they couldn't give specific details about the man and his arrest.

The gun has been recovered but it is not clear how the suspect got the weapon into the school.

What are officials saying?

Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said: “Reports I just got from the hospital is that neither [wound] is considered life-threatening, and I thank God for that. That is the most important thing."

In reference to the suspect and victims, he added: "We do believe that they knew each other … I don’t believe that this is an individual that is searching the community to hurt members."

Drew is on his way to meet the victims at the hospital.

Police say that rumors about active shooters at other schools are not true.

Students were evacuated and led to the school’s tennis courts for parents to meet their children, authorities say.

A nearby school, Achievable Dream Academy, has been placed on lockdown.