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Mother mourns loss of Norcross teen
Kimberly Parks says she is hurt, angry, and wants whoever killed her son caught.
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Gwinnett County police said a Norcross High School student shot near the campus on Wednesday has died.
Police identified the student as 17-year-old DeAndre Henderson. Police said officers found Henderson shot at around noon Wednesday on Technology Drive about a mile from the high school. He died at a local hospital, according to police.
Investigators believe Henderson left the Norcross campus during school hours and was shot off-campus. Police called the shooting an isolated incident.
The boy's mother said there's a vigil for the boy planned on Friday night. She described DeAndre as a fun-loving son and brother.
"I'm just praying that someone comes forward because they know who did this, who shot my son, who murdered my son," Kimberly Parks said.
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Mother heartbroken to learn son was shot to death while he should have been in school
The mother of the 17-year-old Norcross High School student shot off-campus said he was a fun-loving son and brother. She hopes someone comes forward with information about who shot her son.
Gwinnett County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts said the investigation is being handled by the Gwinnett County Police Department.
"A GCPS student was shot today outside one of our schools," said Dr. Calvin J. Watts. "We are partnering with Gwinnett County police who are handling this investigation."
Gwinnett County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts (Gwinnett County Public Schools)
Watts says there will be additional law enforcement at the school on Thursday. In a video message posted after the shooting, he asked for parents and the greater community to help end such violence.
"How will you help us? Will you help us keep guns away from our children and away from our schools? Will you help us teach our children how to resolve conflict without violence?" he asked.
The superintendent says the violence in the greater community has started to creep into the schools, impacting the students.
"The violence and threats of violence are happening way too frequently in our community, our state, and our nation. I want to be clear, the gun violence in our community and around the country is unacceptable, it needs to stop," Watts said.
The superintendent says the district is already in the process of hiring more school resource officers and re-evaluating its policy on threats and violence.
"Any student involved in violence or threats of violence at our schools will face consequences," Dr. Watts said. "Students involved in this shooting will be held accountable, which will include tribunals and criminal charges pending the investigation."
Earlier in the day, district officials placed Brookwood High School on lockdown for several hours after a "concern" about a weapon on campus. Officials later determined there was "no credible threat."
On Friday, Shiloh High School and neighboring schools were locked down in response to a report someone fired a gun on campus.
Both incidents remain under investigation.
The family of DeAndre Henderson have set up a GoFundMe account to help raise money to pay for his funeral