Poughkeepsie cancels Wednesday high school classes, updating security plan after shooting

Katelyn Cordero, Poughkeepsie Journal
·4 min read

Poughkeepsie High School will remain closed to students Wednesday as school officials finalize new safety measures in the wake of a shooting outside the school Monday.

That's according to a letter sent to the community from Superintendent Eric Rosser on a Tuesday in which students did not report to school for a planned half-day and parent-teacher conferences were cancelled.

A 13-year-old was arrested following the incident, one of two shooting incidents in the city Monday, as police and community leaders continue to grapple with a rash of gun violence largely involving young residents. City police have not said if there is a relation between the two incidents; both are under investigation.

Rosser, who was not available Tuesday to answer direct questions regarding the incident or the next steps for the school, said additional safety measures would be in place for a planned return to classes on Thursday, and Principal Kelleyann Royce-Giron would host a chat with parents Wednesday evening to answer questions from the community.

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District leadership, school staff and a member of the city police department met Tuesday to discuss changes at the high school that will include, according to Rosser's letter:

  • A law enforcement presence in the school during arrival and dismissal.

  • Additional temporary staff assigned to the school.

  • Purchasing "technology to strengthen the school's interior safety posture."

  • Developing new safety protocols.

Rosser said school officials would review the steps with students on Thursday, and "be prepared to provide student supports to those adversely impacted by the incident."

What happened at the school

The district announced there was reported gunfire outside the school on Forbus Street around 3 p.m. Monday. Police found shell casings in a grassy area in front of the high school and vehicles with multiple bullet holes.

It wasn't clear how many students, if any, were near the area of the incident.

According to city police, a witness said two male suspects fled on foot toward Daniels Court. Two suspects were found nearby in a backyard. They attempted to flee on foot but failed, police said.

The 13-year-old boy was found with a semi-automatic handgun. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and transported to a juvenile facility in Columbia County. On Tuesday he was scheduled to appear in family court, police said.

In a Facebook post prior to an official release being sent, city police said a 15-year-old was found with the 13-year-old and was also detained, but charges were not specified. A subsequent press release did not mention the 15-year-old and attempts to clarify with police the status of the 15-year-old were unsuccessful.

Police said "multiple items of evidence" were found at the scene, including shell casings. The department is asking anyone that witnessed the incident to come forward.

"At this time we have no witnesses willing to identify who the shooter was who fired the .380-caliber handgun in front of the high school," the department said. "Ballistics, latent fingerprint and DNA analysis will be conducted on the ... handgun taken off the 13-year-old and the spent shell casings to determine if the gun found on the 13-year-old matched the shall casings found in front of the school."

While police secured the area, staff and students followed hold in place procedures, police and the district said.

Second incident results in injury

Less than three hours after the first incident, police responded to another shooting in the area of 106 Smith St, where a vehicle was seen fleeing the scene.

Police said they later responded to reports of a vehicle crashed into a tree on Dubois Ave. A 19-year-old man from Connecticut was found with a gunshot wound to his hand and head injuries from the crash, police said.

The driver of the vehicle was transported to MidHudson Regional Hospital for treatment and his car was impounded. He refused to cooperate with the investigation, and declined to share was transpired inside the vehicle.

Police said two brothers, 19-and 17-years-old, who were in the vehicle but fled the scene of the accident were seen walking in the area with minor injuries to their hands. Statements from one of the brothers and witnesses gave conflicting accounts of what happened in the car, and no weapon was recovered.

The brothers were released and were not charged with any crime at this time, but police noted an investigation is ongoing.

The incidents came roughly two weeks after a 48-hour stretch on Halloween weekend in which at least eight people were injured and police seven shootings and one stabbing.

Anyone with information about either incident or any other gun-related violence in the city is asked to call 845-451-7577.

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Poughkeepsie High School safety plan to be updated after shooting.