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."