WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — West Memphis police responded to a fatal shooting near a school Wednesday.
West Memphis Police say a man was shot and killed on Barton Street around 3 p.m. The location is in a neighborhood near Weaver Elementary.
Police are still searching for the suspect.
Weaver Elementary went on lockdown, and students and staff are safe. A school representative said the incident happened at an intersection adjacent to the school.
A city spokesperson said no students or staff at the school were involved.
Parents said they watched as police worked the scene outside the school while they waited to pick up their children.
Eric Clark, who said he got to the school just after 2 p.m. to pick up his two daughters, says he recognized the victim as a fellow parent, whose kids were in the car when the shots were fired.
“He’s here every day. He picks his kids up every day from this school,” Clark said. “It’s terrible, it’s mind blowing. The state that we have gotten into with these young people, it’s terrible. And really something needs to be done.”
The school was dismissed once police were able to clear the scene.
Weaver Elementary School said in a statement that they went into immediate lockdown when the incident happened, and thankfully, no students or staff were injured.
West Memphis Police have not released any more details regarding the shooting, including whether or not they have a suspect.