Students react to Putnam City High School shooting

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

A former Putnam City high school student was released from the hospital Wednesday after being shot in the parking lot of the high school after a basketball game on Tuesday. 

Students and parents had mixed reactions the day after the shooting.

"I heard the kid that got shot went here last year and wasn't supposed to be here," said Sarah King, Putnam City High School freshman.

The district is stressing the fact the shooting has no connection to any current students or to the basketball game that ended prior to the violence, but that doesn't make it any easier for those like James Testerman whose granddaughter attends the school.

Testerman said he is worried about her safety.

"There's a lot of stuff that goes on around here," he said.

Police, who said this was a gang related crime, are also concerned, but a majority of students said they know this is an isolated event that will not change their Putnam City pride.

"This is a good school," Freshman Kirstan Lenhart said. "This is a good school. I really like it here."

Security was beefed up at the schools, but district spokesman Steve Lindley said there were no plans to add more security at the school's next athletic event.