North Hills, CA – 17 Year Old Boy Shot Near Sepulveda Middle School On Wednesday

North Hills, CA (April 15, 2026) – A 17-year-old boy was shot near Sepulveda Middle School in North Hills on Wednesday afternoon, leaving the surrounding community shaken and raising serious questions about youth safety in and around Los Angeles Unified School District campuses.

According to Los Angeles Police Department Captain Garrett Peyton, officers responded to the scene at approximately 3:00 p.m. and found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the thigh. The victim was not a student at Sepulveda Middle School, but had been walking toward the campus to pick up a younger sibling when an altercation broke out. Authorities named a 13-year-old boy as the suspect in the shooting. The suspect's firearm was recovered at the scene. As of the initial report, the suspect had not yet been taken into custody, and it remained unclear whether he has any gang affiliation.

A witness told reporters that the suspected shooter is a student at Sepulveda Middle School. The shooting occurred on school property, though outside of the school's fencing. In response, school administration placed the campus on immediate lockdown and requested assistance from the Los Angeles School Police Department.

In a message to the school community, the Sepulveda Middle School principal confirmed: "The injured person was not a Sepulveda Middle School student. Due to the proximity to our campus, we placed the campus on lockdown and requested the assistance of the Los Angeles School Police Department."

Two individuals were initially detained as possible suspects but were subsequently cleared and released. The lockdown was lifted by approximately 5:00 p.m. The LAPD confirmed there were no additional threats to the campus and no other injuries were reported. The Los Angeles Unified School District announced it would deploy additional staff and mental health resources for students returning to campus.

Student Alessandro Valdivia described the terrifying moments following the shooting: "I was really nervous and shocked. We heard a couple of loud bangs. Then me and my friends started running. We saw a lot of people crowded, and everyone started running."

Your Rights After a Shooting Injury

If you or a loved one was injured in a shooting, the following steps may help protect your legal rights:

• Seek immediate and thorough medical attention and preserve all medical records related to the injury
• Document the scene, witness information, and any available photographic or video evidence
• Avoid providing recorded statements to insurers or other parties prior to consulting with an attorney
• Request applicable public records, including police reports and surveillance footage, as they become available
• Contact an experienced civil rights attorney to evaluate your options

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