WYOMING, Mich. – Police have stepped up security Thursday outside of Lee High School after a varsity basketball player was shot in the leg Wednesday evening.
Godfrey-Lee Schools Superintendent David Britten told FOX17 that the high school has one full-time security officer. Doors are always locked, and adults are in the halls daily.
In thirteen years with the district, Britten said, he never experienced an act of violence like this here. "It was basically disbelief that that could happen,” said Britten.
Britten said the 10th grader who was shot, who remains unnamed, is expected to fully recover.
"He's a good student,” said Britten. “He hasn't had so much as a tardy to school; very intelligent, leader on the team."
Beginning Jan. 5, the district will spend $21,000 this school year and hire two security officers to patrol after school from 2:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Originally, this security was scheduled to begin at the end of January but was expedited after this shooting.
Lee High School graduate Elizabeth Robles grew up in the district and said she feels safe. "It's not that I don't feel safe because of the school, it's more of the people around it,” said Robles.
Robles works with an after-school program at Lee High School. She believes two additional officers on site should be effective.
"We're a small school,” said Robles. “We don't need 50 people at every corner. We're easy to monitor. I know that they've increased the cameras in the last few years as well, so I think with a couple more eyes that should be good enough."
Meanwhile, several parents told FOX17 they are uneasy because, as of Thursday afternoon, Wyoming Police said they have no information on any suspect.
“I think people will be a little uneasy until we figure out what happened and who did it and they are apprehended,” said Supt. Britten. “That’s the first thing we’re going to try to continue to work on, even through the break, is figuring out who did this.”
Britten said officials will evaluate the effectiveness of this additional security at the end of the school year to determine what system will be in place next school year.
If you have any information on this shooting, call the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, (616) 530-7300, or Silent Observer, (616) 774-2345.
