What was supposed to be a celebratory night for Sem Yeto High School ended in gunfire yesterday, when three students were shot after the school’s graduation ceremony at Fairfield High School’s Schafer Stadium, according to local officials. The shooting happened after the ceremony had wrapped up, and authorities have not released any details about the victims’ conditions. Police say the investigation is ongoing.
The Solano County Sheriff’s Office is assisting Fairfield police as they work the case, CBS Sacramento reported. The district’s graduation schedule shows Sem Yeto’s commencement was set for the Fairfield High campus, and district officials told CBS the gunfire erupted after the ceremony had concluded. Police are asking anyone who saw what happened to come forward.
Campus tensions before commencement
The shooting lands in a school community already on edge. In May, a video showing a police officer striking a student touched off a student walkout and demands for an outside review, as reported in Hoodline coverage of the cop seen hitting a teen and in local TV reports. Following that incident, community leaders pressed the district and police for greater transparency, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
What authorities say
On social media, Suisun City Mayor Alma Hernandez said a search was underway for the shooter. As of now, authorities have not released any description of a suspect.
Investigators are still piecing together how the post-ceremony chaos turned into a crime scene, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Fairfield Police Department, according to CBS Sacramento.
Next steps for families and students
The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District says it will work with law enforcement as the investigation moves forward. Families looking for official updates are being directed to monitor the district’s regular communication channels.
General graduation information for the district, including ceremony schedules and locations, is posted on the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District website.
