3 teenagers shot outside South Side school

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Three teenagers were wounded in a shooting outside Excel Southwest High School on the city's South Side, according to a Chicago Fire Department official. All three attend the school in Marquette Park.

"All I saw was him falling. I didn't know what was going on," one student said.

The teenagers, ages 15 to 17, were walking from a secondary building to the school's main building when someone opened fire at 12:45 p.m. Friday, officials said. Police blocked off the area near 70th and Washtenaw and kept children inside while emergency crews responded.

"A group of teens were walking in the west side walkway when a suspect emerged from an opening across the street. He approached the group and opened fire," Chief Wayne Gulliford said.

A 17-year-old boy was shot in the torso and taken to Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn in serious to critical condition, police said. A 17-year-old girl suffered a graze wound to the ankle and a 15-year-old also suffered a graze wound.

A fourth student may have witnessed the shooting, but ran away.

"That's why I'm shaking," someone who lives nearby said. "I heard three kids are shot."

"Our neighborhood was never like this. It really needs to change. They really need to put down the guns," Jerome Smith said.

Excel Southwest High School lets out at 1 p.m. on Fridays. The person who answered the phone there had "no comment." Excel is a Camelot Education school.