HARVEY, LA – A teenager in Harvey, Louisiana, was apprehended by law enforcement after a shooting at West Jefferson High School. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto confirmed the arrest of the 17-year-old suspect, identified as Denis Castro-Andrade.
Castro-Andrade was taken into custody at his home and is expected to be charged with several offenses at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, which include attempted second-degree murder, possession of a weapon within school premises, and underage possession of a weapon.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the victim was an 18-year-old male student whose injuries, though significant, were not life-threatening. There were unconfirmed reports from a parent that the shooting occurred around the time students were boarding buses, as the school underwent early dismissal that Thursday.
Councilman Hans Liljeberg suggested there was a fight after the school’s dismissal, and an official spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office clarified that the shooting took place across the street from the school in a business’ parking area.
In the chaos that ensued, students were quickly escorted into the school gym as parents waited outside. Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office’s Jason Rivarde acknowledged the usual conflicts that arise among high school students but expressed doubt about any existing tensions that could have escalated to gun violence. He pledged to do everything possible to identify and arrest the person responsible for this act.
Parents managed to connect briefly with their children via phone calls and texts amidst the crisis, illustrating the fear and panic that gripped them. The incident left a significant impact on the students and families involved. Those who were walking home from school were dismissed around 1:45 p.m.