Anniston High School cancels homecoming after girl injured in shootout

Anniston High School cancels homecoming after girl injured in shootout

Anniston High School canceled its homecoming parade and pep rally scheduled for Thursday night after a girl was injured in a shootout that erupted Tuesday after several female students got into fights near a community center.

In a social media post Thursday, the school did not provide any details on the incident, only saying homecoming was canceled “[d]ue to recent events involving shootings in the community.”

“We are cooperating fully with law enforcement in this ongoing investigation,” the school said. “Please remember, our first priority is the safety of all students and staff.

Anniston Police Chief Nick Bowles told AL.com a group of girls from the high school was at South Highland Community Center on Tuesday night when multiple fights broke out between the girls.

As the fights subsided, someone brandished a gun and started firing at a vehicle parked in the roadway.

At least two other people brandished firearms at an intersection near the community center and returned fire at the first person who fired shots.

A girl who was a passenger in the vehicle at the intersection was hit in the back by gunfire, the chief said.

The girl suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated and released from a local hospital, Bowles said.

Bowles said police have identified suspects but no arrests have been made as of late Thursday afternoon.