Student shot and killed at school by another student

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Fort Lauderdale Police are investigating the shooting death of a 15-year-old student at Dillard High School by another student.

Police ordered the school on lockdown at about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, as they investigated the shooting death of 15-year-old Amanda Collette on campus. "The original call was a student went up to one of our school resource officers and said there was a female unresponsive in the hallway near the computer lab," said Fort Lauderdale Police Sgt. Frank Sousa.

Soon after, police responded to a call of another student, also 15, with a gun at a nearby Captain Crabs fast-food restaurant, who was believed to have been involved with a shooting on campus. "We have detained that female, and she is currently at the police department where she is talking to police," said Fort Lauderdale Police Sgt. Frank Sousa.

As the suspect is a minor, police have not released her identity, but her family was made aware that detectives are questioning her and charges remain pending. 

Meanwhile, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescuers transported the victim to Broward General Medical Center in critical condition. She was pronounced dead at the hospital and, after some examination, Fire Rescuers determined the girl was shot in the chest.

Broward County Schools Superintendent Jim Notter participated in a press conference soon after police confirmed the student's death at around 1 p.m. "On behalf of the school board and the school district, we are devastated, devastated, about what happened today," he said.

Notter went on to explain that a thorough investigation will be made into how this shooting occurred on campus. He also noted that the school has metal detector wands, security cameras and school resource officers to maintain security. Notter said any footage of the shooting caught by security cameras has been turned over to police to assist in the investigation.

Notter emphasized that students should feel safe on campus and added that school counselors will be provided to students in light of the traumatizing events that unfolded at their school.

Police have said the victim and shooter were involved in some sort of argument but have not released further details, pending the investigation. Homicide detectives did arrive on the scene.

Students called parents soon after police arrived on the scene to inform them of the shooting, and worried parents began showing up outside the school in droves during the brief lockdown. Students were let outside in a common area but soon returned to class while the investigation continued into what police have called an "isolated incident."

The school remained on lockdown until classes were dismissed.

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