3 teenagers shot near Lawrence High School; Police searching for suspect

Three teenagers were shot near Lawrence High School in Massachusetts as students were dismissed on Monday afternoon. Police are searching for one suspect in connection with the shooting. 

The frightening scene unfolded as gunshots rang out in the area of Exeter Street and E. Dalton Street just after 3 p.m. An elementary school nearby had just been let out for the day. 

In a letter to the community, Lawrence Public School Superintendent Ralph Carrero said, "there was an act of gun violence in the South Lawrence neighborhood adjacent to Lawrence High School this afternoon, resulting in injuries to three teenagers."

The teens who were shot were taken to the hospital. Lawrence Police said Monday afternoon that they were "reported to be in various conditions." 

"I thought it was fireworks or something," said Christian Lantigua, who lives nearby. "It was like 3 o'clock, kids are coming out of school, so you wouldn't really think that someone was there to shoot someone else." 

The shooting did not occur on school property. A school resource officer reported the sound of gunshots coming from the Lawrence Housing Authority before 911 calls started flooding in. 

"The first thing we saw was people running," Lantigua said. "At the corner over there is where we saw at least one kid laying down." 

Dozens of evidence markers littered the street where neighbors say a fight broke out before the shots. Police are still searching for the suspect with the help of Massachusetts State Police and the FBI. 

"At this time, investigators do not believe this was a random act of violence. Police are actively searching for one suspect," said Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler.

No information about a potential suspect has been released by police.