COLUMBUS, Ohio – Four Columbus high schools were placed under precautionary lockdown Wednesday morning, reportedly as a precaution against gang violence after a teenage shooting victim died hours earlier.
Columbus City Schools confirmed Linden-McKinley, Mifflin, Northland and Whetstone high schools were placed under a Level II lockdown, which meant that students remained inside the building and moved between classrooms but extra security measures were in place to screen anyone entering or leaving the buildings.
10-TV News reported the lockdown was spurred by the death of Zyshonne Dupri Jenkins.
Jenkins, 16, was shot in the midsection during an exchange of gunfire at approximately 9:30 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of E. Livingston Avenue and Dellwood Avenue, according to Homicide Unit Detective Stephen Glasure.
When the officers dispatched to check on the shooting report arrived at the scene they found Jenkins and a witness, Glasure said. Jenkins was taken to Grant Medical Center in critical condition and was unable to give investigators a statement. He died at 5:41 a.m. Wednesday.
Glasure said the witness told police that Jenkins was shot during a gunfight with an unknown suspect at the northwest corner of the intersection.
The suspect is believed to have fled the scene southbound on Courtright Road, Glasure said.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-645-TIPS.