CHAMPS Charter Families Grapple With Shooting's Aftermath

VAN NUYS, CA — Counselors and school psychologists were available Friday to students and staff at CHAMPS Charter High School of the Arts in Van Nuys, a day after a shooting across the street from the school left a student and campus employee wounded and prompted a lockdown of the campus.

In a statement on the school's website, administrators said they understood if parents wanted their children to take the day off to process what had occurred.

"We are here for you," the statement said, in part. "We support whatever decision you feel is right for you and your student."

The shooting was reported around noon Thursday outside a Jack in the Box restaurant in the 6800 block of Van Nuys Boulevard, and the victims, a teenage boy and a woman, suffered non-life threatening wounds, according to Sgt. Barry Montgomery of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Montgomery said he could not confirm if the pair were targeted in the shooting or were unintended victims. Fox11 reported from the scene that the pair were in a crosswalk across from the restaurant and were struck by stray gunfire.

Los Angeles Fire Department Deputy Chief Trevor Richmond said they suffered from "extremity wounds" and were both in stable condition.

Two suspects were taken into custody. The first suspect was located almost immediately near the school's outdoor lunch area and the second was found a couple hours later. Their names have not been released.

Police stressed the shooting did not occur on the school campus, but outside the Jack in the Box restaurant. Its proximity to the school, however, prompted parents of students to flock to the area to retrieve their children. Students were reunited with their parents just after 3 p.m.

City News Service; Photo: Youtube screengrab