Monday afternoon dismissal at Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School in the Crotona Park section of the Bronx was abruptly interrupted when shots were fired just outside the campus, according to officials. The gunfire erupted around dismissal time and students were ordered into a brief shelter-in-place while officers swept the area. City officials said no one was hurt and no property damage was reported, even as officers searched the schoolyard and collected evidence with the suspect still at large into the evening. The scare added fresh fuel to neighborhood worries about safety during the after-school rush.
Police And School Response
Officers responded to Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School at 1021 Jennings Street just before 3 p.m., right as students were heading out for the day, and investigators were seen searching for shell casings. The Department of Education told News 12 New York that students were placed in a short shelter-in-place while police secured the scene. Authorities told the outlet that no injuries or property damage were reported and that the gunman remained on the run Monday evening.
School And Neighborhood Context
Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School, at 1021 Jennings Street, sits right by Crotona Park and serves several hundred Bronx students. The school lists its Jennings Street address and contact information on its website at Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School, underscoring its role as a local fixture. With the campus so close to the park, dismissal and after-school foot traffic often converge around the school entrance, a daily routine that made Monday’s gunfire feel especially close to home.
What Comes Next
NYPD detectives continued their investigation into Monday evening and had not released a suspect description or possible motive. The police response and brief sheltering order were documented by News 12 New York, and officials said they would review surveillance footage and witness accounts. Parents and community leaders are expected to push for more details on dismissal-time safety as investigators work to identify the shooter.
