OKLAHOMA CITY — A 17-year-old student was shot and killed Wednesday near Star Spencer High School, causing the school to cancel classes for the rest of the week.
The shooting, which occurred near NE 34th Street and Spencer Road, initially caused Star Spencer High School, Roger Mills and Spencer Elementary School to go into lockdown until police confirmed the suspect was taken into custody. Classes have resumed at all area schools other than Star Spencer.
The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office reports that a on Wednesday, a group of juveniles got into an altercation off-campus, and one of them pulled out a gun and shot a male juvenile, later identified as 17-year-old Sebastian Guyton, a student at Star Spencer High School. The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
One person was taken into custody after a foot chase, according to law enforcement, though the suspect’s identity has not been disclosed.
Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) released a statement for the community.
“While this was an off-campus incident, OKCPS is working closely with law enforcement. We know you have many questions, but because this is an active investigation, we are limited in what we can share at this time. It is important to note that while the two minors involved were students at Star Spencer High School, the suspect was not in class today,” the statement reads in part.
While classes at Star Spencer are cancelled for the rest of the week along with all athletics events, activities and childcare, counselors will be on campus each day to help students or staff who need support.
“After experiencing a loss, students and staff may react in different ways, and we must all be prepared for a variety of emotions and responses to what has occurred,” the statement reads. “That said, the most important thing we can do is to be supportive and encourage an open expression of feelings both at school and at home. Please help keep our Bobcat family and friends in your thoughts during this very difficult time… Anyone needing support outside of school hours during this heartbreaking time are encouraged to call 988 anytime for free, confidential mental health support.
“OKCPS is grateful for the quick response of our law enforcement partners and first responders, and we encourage anyone with information about this incident to contact the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office. As always, if you see or hear anything concerning, please call 587-SAFE (7723),” the statement continued.
Oklahoma County District 1 Commissioner Jason Lowe issued a statement regarding the shooting.
“I am deeply troubled by the incident in Spencer, where what began as a confrontation between juveniles escalated into gunfire near our schools. First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers are with the students, families, and staff who were impacted- no parent, teacher, or community member should ever fear for their safety,” said Lowe.
“We will not accept this as simply an isolated incident, we will learn from it, take action, and work proactively to prevent anything like this from happening again,” Lowe continued. “I ask every person, parents, students, educators, neighbors, to join in this effort. Safety is a shared responsibility, and together, we can ensure that our schools remain places of learning, growth, and security.”
