Teen dies following shooting near Kearns High


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Team coverageThe 16-year-old victim wounded in a shooting near Kearns High School today has died. Sheriff's deputies believe the shooting may have been gang-related.

The shooting happened around noon, two blocks west of Kearns High School. Salt Lake County sheriff's deputies say there was some sort of confrontation between groups with gang affiliation, and the 16-year-old student was shot several times in the stomach.

Following the shooting, the victim's friends took him back to get help at the school. He was then transported to the hospital in critical condition. Tonight we received word that he succumbed to his injuries.

Sheriff's deputies arrested two juveniles suspected in the shooting a couple of blocks west of the school at an unknown residence. Apparently, they turned themselves in through a phone conversation with the school resource officer. They were taken to the juvenile detention center.

Shortly following the incident, Kearns High went on lockdown, worrying both parents and students.

Student Anthony Perea said, "A lot of phones are going off from kids' parents, lots of text messages."

Student Jonathan Colby added, "People were kind of scared. They were hoping it wasn't someone they knew."

Susan Colby, a parent, said, "When we first heard it was a sophomore boy, I came over as quick as I could. I was walking around, getting different bits and pieces from people."

The motive behind the shooting is still unclear. "We'll investigate further. Whatever the cause was, there is no rationale. It's a terrible, terrible tragedy, and we'll investigate how it all occurred," said Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder.

E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com
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E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com

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