Pubdate: Fri, 14 Apr 2006
Source: Daily Journal, The (MN)
Copyright: 2006 Fergus Falls Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2568
Author: Matthew Miller

TEEN SHOT OUTSIDE NORTHSIDE SCHOOL

Grand River Magnet Elementary Neighbors: Kids Were
Nearby

A 17-year-old boy was critically injured in a shooting  Thursday on a
Lansing school playground.

The boy was shot three times in the chest and upper  body just before
4 p.m. outside Grand River Magnet  Elementary School.

The teen - whose name was not released - was shot with  a handgun at
close range as he stood near the  playground equipment, police Capt.
Ray Hall said.

The teen was hospitalized Thursday night with  life-threatening
injuries, Hall said.

The shooter reportedly ran into the neighborhood and  hadn't been
found as of late Thursday.

Although the school, at 1107 E. Grand River Ave., is on  spring break
this week, Hall said several people saw  the shooting.

Based on what witnesses said, police do not believe the  crime was
random.

"We have reason to believe the accused and the victim  had some level
of association with each other," Hall  said.

The motive for the shooting still was being  investigated Thursday
night.

Carol Cobb, who lives on New York Avenue across from  the school, was
sitting on her porch when the shots  were fired.

"People just started running off the playground like  they were
getting away from the chaos," she said,  adding that children were
among those fleeing.

Like several of her neighbors, Cobb said she often has  seen what she
believes are drug deals taking place on  the school's playground after
school hours.

"I'm always having to call the police because they're  always selling
drugs over there," she said.

Police "need to try to stop it somehow," she added. "It  shouldn't
have had to come to this."

Anthony Jones' reaction was similar. He was scared, he  said, scared
for his 7-month-old son.

"I take my kid and play in that park," said Jones, who  lives directly
across the street from the site of the  shooting.

"Now I can't do that no more." 
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