Officials: Metal detectors not in use day of Alabama school shooting

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Birmingham Police said officers have taken a person of interest into custody following a deadly shooting at inside a high school Wednesday afternoon.

Courtlin Arrington, 17, was killed and a 17-year-old male student was shot inside a classroom at Huffman High School just after the last bell rang for the day around 3:40 p.m. Central Time, according to police.

Police initially thought the shooting was an accident, but according to al.com, police have since learned the student who survived shot himself in the leg. Police have maintained that the shooting was not random and that there were no other external parties involved.

Arrington was taken to UAB Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The boy, whose name has not yet been released, was also rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

The gun believed to be used in the shooting was taken into possession by police at the scene.

Police said there was surveillance video they will be reviewing and possibly some witnesses, but as of Wednesday evening, details surrounding the shooting were scarce.

Thursday, school officials said while there are metal detectors in the school, they were not in use on the day of the shooting. Class resumed with a special crisis team at the school to help students cope with the incident. Security was also tightened at the campus.

School officials said Arrington was about 30 days away from turning 18 and looked forward to going to college.

"We lost a person, not just a person, but a student. Someone's daughter, someone's best friend," said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin during a press conference Wednesday. "We need to wrap our arms around Huffman High School."

Birmingham City Schools released the following statement Wednesday:

"Two students were involved in a shooting during dismissal today at Huffman High School. The school was placed on a brief lockdown, and police were called to the scene. Students have been released and police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting."

Superintendent Lisa Herring later told al.com that both victims were students.