Teen injured in shooting at park, two suspects sought

The Sentinel-Record/Mara Kuhn SHOOTING IN PARK: Hot Springs police officers and detectives gather evidence near the corner of Dillon and Potter Street Thursday morning after a local teen was shot nearby at Wade Street Park, 300 Wade St. The victim was taken to National Park Medical Center with a reportedly non life-threatening injury and two suspects were being sought.
The Sentinel-Record/Mara Kuhn SHOOTING IN PARK: Hot Springs police officers and detectives gather evidence near the corner of Dillon and Potter Street Thursday morning after a local teen was shot nearby at Wade Street Park, 300 Wade St. The victim was taken to National Park Medical Center with a reportedly non life-threatening injury and two suspects were being sought.

A local teen was shot Thursday morning during a confrontation at Wade Street Park with two unknown males who were still being sought by Hot Springs police.

The victim, 17, was at the park, located at 300 Wade St., around 11 a.m. when he was approached by two black males who attempted to rob him. One of the suspects shot him once in the groin area and then both of them fled on foot, Hot Springs police said in a news release.

HSPD Cpl. Kirk Zaner said the victim told police he didn't know either of the suspects. He was taken by private vehicle to National Park Medical Center for treatment of what was described as a non life-threatening injury. Earlier reports indicated he had walked to a residence in the 200 block of nearby Potter Street to seek help after the shooting.

The incident prompted a brief lockdown at Langston Magnet School, located a few blocks away at 120 Chestnut St., by police and school resource officers, Doug Upshaw, director of human resources and communication for Hot Springs School District, said in a news release.

Once officers completed their work and determined the grounds around the school were safe an all clear was issued, the lockdown was lifted and normal activities resumed, he said, noting that because the incident occurred away from the school the 911 Rave Activation notification was not issued by school personnel.

"The quick response and arrival of our school resource officers and their action to initiate a lockdown is illustrative of the district's top priority in maintaining the safety of not only Langston, but all district campuses," Upshaw said.

Officers and detectives converged on the scene of the shooting and were searching for evidence along a hillside next to the fenced-in park near the corner of Wade and Potter streets. It was believed the suspects fled into the wooded area located between Potter and Cypressvale Street.

A HSPD K-9 was brought in to attempt to track them, but the suspects could not be located after searching for several minutes throughout the wooded area and surrounding streets.

A witness, Jose Santillan, told The Sentinel-Record he knew the victim, who had come to the park "to see some friends." He said the victim walked over to the area near the park where he met up with two black males, one wearing a red hat, and was talking to them.

"Then I heard a gunshot," he said, and he saw the two black males running away. He said he didn't know what might have prompted the shooting.

Zaner said the incident was still under investigation and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information about possible suspects should contact HSPD detectives at 321-6789, ext. 6717, or the 24-hour, anonymous hotline at 321-6742.

Local on 05/06/2016

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