Teenage boy hospitalized after shooting in Roanoke outside the Berglund Center

ROANOKE, Va. – Roanoke police are investigating after a teenage boy was shot outside the Berglund Center on Wednesday afternoon.

The shooting happened shortly before 2 p.m. When police arrived at the scene, they found a boy inside the event center who had been shot and suffered a non-life-threatening injury.

He was taken by ambulance to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Police believe the boy was shot outside but then ran inside the Berglund Center.

On Wednesday afternoon, Roanoke police gave an update on their investigation along with Roanoke City Public School officials. You can watch it below:

During the course of the investigation, about a dozen police officers were at the scene, which they said was not an active shooter situation.

At the time of the shooting, William Fleming High School was holding its graduation practice inside the facility. All those inside the building are safe and accounted for.

Police said two teens had fought earlier in the day, then the fight spilled over outside the Berglund Center and ended in gunfire.

When asked the connection between the victim, shooter and William Fleming High School, Roanoke City Schools Superintendent, Verletta White said: “There’s limited information we can give about the children, but certainly we can say that this was a graduation practice, so our seniors were here for graduation practice.”

School officials said William Fleming High School’s graduation will continue as scheduled for Thursday, but extra safety precautions will be in place with additional police presence.

After police secured the scene, dozens of parents reunited with their children and 10 News was able to speak to some of the parents and students.

“We heard 3 shots go off. We heard someone come in and stumble down the stairs and go to the wall. We looked over and he had a bullet in his arm and he was yelling for someone to call an ambulance,” said student Brenden DeCourcey.

”Whether I want my kid to come to graduation tomorrow, stuff like this happens, it’s scary. I just want my kid to graduate,” said parent Mandy Creech.

Before the news conference, Roanoke City Public Schools released this statement about the shooting:

Roanoke City Public Schools is aware that a shooting took place outside of the Berglund Center on Wednesday afternoon prior to the start of William Fleming High School’s graduation practice. At this time, we can confirm that one student was injured, and their family has been contacted. The Roanoke City Police Department is investigating, and we are cooperating fully in that investigation.

The safety and security of our students and staff is always our top priority. Please feel confident that the school system is taking every possible precaution to ensure student safety.

We have provided counseling to students and staff who are still on site at the Berglund Center, and counselors remain on the premises to provide continued support.

Meanwhile, Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea said he’s disappointed violence is on the city school’s door step.

Doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t make sense and it tells me that I think there must be some things going on in this city to a degree that we have to put more emphasis on safety,” said Lea.

Police did not locate any suspects at the scene and have not made any arrests in connection with this shooting.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 540-344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text police at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.