3 highschool graduations across the U.S. end with gunfire in lower than 24 hours

Three high school graduation ceremonies ended with photographs fired in separate incidents in Louisiana, Michigan and Tennessee within the span of 24 hours, another sobering example of gun violence impacting everyday lives, including that of teenage students.

After students crossed stages to receive their diplomas, chaos ensued with gunfire.

At the very least one individual was killed and seven others injured in collective shootings that resulted within the arrest of a 17-year-old gunman in Tennessee.

Photographs were fired Thursday evening round 8:15 p.m as graduates of Hammond Excessive College have been leaving their ceremony held on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University to satisfy with their households, police mentioned.

Four people had been injured within the gunfire, all with non-life-threatening injuries, Hammond PD Chief Edwin Bergeron Jr said in a Thursday night time information conference. Three had been transported to an area hospital.

A suspect was located after a short foot pursuit and taken into custody, Southeastern Louisiana College Police Chief Michael Beckner advised NBC Information Friday morning.

Fees are pending because the probe continues and all parties concerned have been adults, Beckner mentioned.

Police said Thursday no Hammond High School college students are believed to be involved within the capturing. 

“Presently we don't consider that there have been any college students concerned, we don't believe any juveniles had been struck in this incident,” Bergeron stated.

Police are asking for witnesses, or individuals with video footage of taking pictures to come back forward. 

There have been Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Workplace deputies on web site working safety for the graduation who responded to the capturing and the “scenario was taken beneath control very quickly," officers mentioned.

Tangipahoa Parish Superintendent of Faculties, Melissa Martin Stilley, stated Thursday, "We apologize to our families and to our college students that this night, which should have been a really happy occasion for our graduates and their families, ended on such a sad notice."

Hammond High School students will have a virtual school day Friday, though faculty will go into to school, she stated.

A capturing erupted at the East Kentwood Excessive Faculty campus outside the football stadium in Michigan on Thursday throughout a commencement ceremony for Crossroads Different High College at around 7:20 p.m., injuring two, the Kent County Sheriff’s Office stated in a statement.

Two deputies were on site working security for the ceremony, however by the point deputies bought to the parking lot on foot, “the suspect autos had fled.” 

Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Younger mentioned in a Thursday night information convention that individuals in two automobiles had been exchanging gunshots.

She stated “a lot of photographs” have been fired on the scene.

The sheriff's workplace mentioned two victims within the capturing had been later located at area hospitals: a 16-year-old from Texas who was shot within the wrist and is in steady situation and a 40-year-old girl from Grand Rapids who was shot within the wrist and abdomen in critical however stable condition. 

It is not clear if the victims had been related to the graduation.

The sheriff’s workplace believes there have been more than two people opened fire. Preliminary studies point out two white sedans with multiple individuals inside fled the scene at a high fee of speed, officers mentioned.

Authorities are also asking for witnesses or folks with video or picture footage of the incident to submit ideas. 

A 17-year-old was arrested in a lethal taking pictures after a commencement ceremony for Riverdale High College held on the Middle Tennessee State University campus shortly earlier than 9 p.m. Wednesday as the group was leaving. 

Hasani Brewer, 18, was killed and a 17-year-old high school student wounded, police stated. Brewer and the teenager who was shot had gotten into a struggle when a 3rd individual opened hearth, police spokesperson Larry Flowers stated at a information convention.

The suspect, who is also 17, was not identified because of his age. He will be arraigned in juvenile court on a first-degree murder cost, Flowers said.

Brewer was a past graduate of the highschool, and the wounded teenager is a junior, he stated.

“The graduation was simply ending, people were leaving, this combat started — so just imagine the chaos when photographs rang out,” Flowers said.

Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.