Jefferson High School closed in wake of gun violence

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 19, 2022

North Portland’s Jefferson High School was closed for the day Wednesday, Oct. 19 following a shooting near the school the day prior that left two students injured.

Portland Public Schools confirmed Wednesday morning that staff decided to cancel school for the day in light of the incident, to give staff and students time to process the events. School staff opened the campus at noon to provide counseling services and meals.

“We want to give parents time to speak with the students and we want to give students an opportunity to get support from their counselors if they desire,” Freddie Mack, senior director of communications for PPS, said Wednesday morning. Mack said counselors are available for students and staff on campus, but classes are not in session. School will resume at Jefferson Thursday, with a day focused on assemblies and listening sessions for students and staff.

“Our schools should be safe spaces for students! Today’s incident is a stark reminder of the gun violence that has impacted our communities for the past few years,” Jefferson High School Principal Drake Shelton said in a message to students and families Tuesday evening. “As we restart, rejuvenate and refocus, we want to make sure that this incident doesn’t stop the great ‘heart-work’ that our staff and students exhibit everyday. …It is common for young people to have strong reactions after learning of and/or experiencing continuing gun violence in the community and today right outside of their school. If your child’s responses are severe or prolonged and interrupting their daily functioning, they might benefit from additional support. Please reach out to a trusted person- whether it be someone at school, someone in your spiritual community, your medical provider, a friend, neighbor, or family member.”

The message to families included links to trauma support, mental health and violence prevention resources, as well as .Gun violence hits school

The closure follows a on North Kerby Avenue around 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18. Police and the district reported two students were injured by gunfire while outside the school. One was shot in the leg while outside the school after classes let out for the day and fled inside the building. Another student was believed to have been grazed by a bullet in the hand, but police and district officials are still working to confirm that. One student was hospitalized, Mack said, and both students sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Portland Police Bureau reported “evidence of gunfire” outside the school’s gym, noting they responded to a 911 call of several shots fired, followed by yelling coming from the campus.

Police noted several students were still in the area at the time of the incident.

Police and PPS have not released any additional information about the shooting, which is under investigation by PPB.

A week prior, a 16-year-old was arrested for his involvement in a shooting near Reynolds High School in Troutdale.