A school in the Cincinnati area was on lockdown Monday morning after gunfire rang out, until officials realized it was a student only interested in harming himself.
Around 9 am, a shot as reported at La Salle High School, an all-male Catholic High School of around 800 students.
At a press conference, a representative from the school later said the school quickly locked down as students were ushered to the gym by officers.
Tragic: A student inside a Cincinnati area all-male Catholic high school (pictured) classroom withdrew a gun and shot himself April 29
The school is located in Green Township, where local police confirmed that the shooting was an attempted suicide witnessed by other students inside a classroom.
The school does not have metal detectors and no security officer was on duty when the shooting occurred during the first class period of the day.
Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil said a student was rushed to University of Cincinnati Medical Center and would not comment on the victim’s condition other than he’s "fighting for his life."
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Asked if any threats were made to other students prior to the shooting, the sheriff replied ‘not that I’m aware of.’
The victim’s name has not been released. A reporter from WCPO Cincinnati reported that, around 10:45am, a ‘visibly upset’ woman and two young men arrived at the hospital in a car with a La Salle decal.
A priest from the high school was also reportedly seen at the hospital.
The lockdown ended around 10am when traffic in area had become congested as hundreds of parents waited to pick up their sons, though officials said those who wanted to could remain at the school with counselors.
Unknowns: The boy's condition was not released, but Hamilton County Sherriff Jim Neil, left, told reporters he is 'fighting for his life,' while a school representative, right, urged that the boy be in everyone's prayers
Cincinnati city councilman Charlie Winburn was among those parents.
‘It’s just so unfortunate for all the kids who are involved,’ Winburn said.
The school assured parents this was an isolated incident. The school website now reads:
‘All La Salle High School students are safe and being dismissed into the custody of their parents due to an attempted suicide involving one students.’ An official asked that prayers be directed toward the student.
Friar Kyle Schnippel of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, took to Twitter, writing, ‘Shooting at Cincinnati LaSalle Catholic High School. One injured apparently. Prayers for all involved!’
The suicide attempt occurred just one month before final exams were scheduled to begin.
Fighting: The unidentified boy was taken to the University of Cincinnati Hospital, where he is 'fighting for his life'