Student Shot at Taft, Gunman at Large

(Brita Brookes, Vision Photography, 12/08/2011)

Ferndale police confirm a youth male was shot in the leg outside the school at approximately 3pm at the Taft Adult Education Center at Allen and Fielding. He was alive and taken by ambulance.

They do not know shooters location and have helicopters and car patrolling the area. Taft, Ferndale High and University High were on lock down until about 5pm. Ferndale Schools announced ” Ferndale Schools lockdown has been lifted by the Ferndale Police. Students may go home now. Those who were held on buses will be taken home on their regular routes, and those who were held at school will be taken home by the bus on a delayed schedule. Evening athletic activities are cancelled, but concerts and meetings will continue as scheduled. More information to follow.”

Mike McConnell of the Daily Tribune reported that “The suspect is 20 years old, wearing a light blue hat, light blue sweatshirt, and khaki pants. He was last seen heading west on Fielding Street, according to a police radio report.”

The Daily Tribune reported an incident with a gun at Taft earlier this week, which you can read about here. In March another dispute resulted in a student bringing a gun to the school, which Ferndale 115 News covered here.

UPDATE: Ferndale Police Lt. Wilson released the following statement on Dec. 9, 2011:

Yesterday at about 2:53 p.m. Ferndale Police responded to an incident where a Taft Adult Education student was shot. The victim is a 20 year old student at the school. At this time, it appears that the student was shot by an unknown assailant who was attempting to rob him at gunpoint.

The victim was leaving the building after school let out. As he exited the building, the robber walked up to him, pointed a semi-auto handgun at his chest, and demanded the victim give him everything he had. The victim pushed the gun away from his chest and he was then shot in the leg. The robber then fled on foot into the neighborhood.

Police searched the neighborhood, but did not find the shooter. In neighborhood yards, police did recover a sweatshirt and a bullet casing believed to have been discarded by the suspect.

The victim was transported to the hospital where he underwent surgery. He is still hospitalized.

The suspect was described as:

· Black male

· 18-20 years old

· 506 to 509 tall

· Medium build

· Clean shaven

· Wearing

o Dark knit hat

o Dark hooded sweatshirt

o Tan (pancake) colored pants

· Armed with a black semi-automatic 9mm pistol.