DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines Police Department is investigating after a Hoover High School student was shot in the leg near school grounds on Friday afternoon.
The shooting happened around 3 p.m. at Westchester Park, which is just across the street from Hoover High School.
The school principal said the 16-year-old student walked from the scene at Westchester Park to Hoover for help.
According to a letter to Hoover families obtained by Local 5, the teen was just a bystander to the shooting:
"During today’s final period, shots were fired into a car parked to the north of the Hoover campus. A current Hoover student was a bystander and was hit in the leg by a bullet. They were able to walk back over to school, where our school nurse provided immediate treatment. The student was soon taken to a local hospital and we are thankful that they are doing well."
School was lockdown for around 20 minutes following the shooting, and Hoover officials said there is no threat to the high school at this time.
"In addition, I want to thank all of our staff and students for their responsive during this situation in looking out for the safety and well-being of everyone at Hoover," the letter reads.
Police believe the student is expected to survive.
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