PONTIC (WWJ) - Pontiac High School is closed Friday after a teenager was shot and left clinging to life.
In a letter to parents, Superintendent Kelley Williams said ensuring the safety of students and staff is top of mind following the shooting, which happened early Thursday morning.
According to reports, a 17-year-old boy was gunned down and left for dead in the area of Bay Street and Dufrain Avenue. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and remains hospitalized in critical condition.
"The circumstances of this tragic incident have caused a great deal of despair and concern throughout Pontiac High School," Williams wrote. "Consequently, a number of problems within the building have arisen and have been brought to our attention. As a result, Pontiac High School will be closed on Friday, September 27th."
Classes at Pontiac High are expected to resume as normal Monday, Sept. 30, with counseling available for all students and staff.
District spokesperson Heidi Hedquist said many students are upset about what happened to the teen, who is a former student at the high school.
"We needed to secure the building, get ready for Monday, have people on site for them, and allow students to take the day, and staff, to be able to process the information, spend time with their families, regroup, and come back on Monday ready to go forward," she told WWJ's Sandra McNeill.
Also as a result of the shooting, there will be no homecoming football game vs. Pontiac at Farmington High School Friday evening. Farmington High School Principal Tom Shelton said in a message to the district that all other Farmington homecoming events will go on as planned, including the pep assembly, parade and Saturday night's dance.
Shelton said while it is disappointing, the Farmington school community is with Pontiac during this difficult time.
No arrests have been made in the shooting, which remains under investigation.