STOCKTON, Calif. — An attempted robbery led to the shooting that left 17-year-old Cesar Chavez High School student Thai Khin dead, the Stockton Police Department said Thursday.
According to police, Khin and another 16-year-old student were playing basketball at the park when the shooter and another suspect walked up to them around 3 p.m. Wednesday.
One of the suspects allegedly robbed and pistol-whipped the 16-year-old causing a fight to break out. During the fight, the shooter shot Khin. The suspects then ran away from the scene.
"That is very concerning, the timeframe and it being in broad daylight, near schools," said Stockton police officer David Scott.
Cesar Chavez High School went on a brief lockdown as police investigated the off-campus shooting.
"It was off campus at this park, but we immediately put the school on lockdown," said Melinda Meza director of communications for Stockton Unified School District.
The lockdown was lifted and students were released just before 3:50 p.m. The gunman's description is unknown.
"What we know right now is that the students were not in class and that they were at this nearby park. We do everything we can to keep the kids safe and we do everything we can to keep our campus safe and we care about students who go to and from school," said Meza.
Counselors and emotional support animals were on campus at Cesar Chavez High School Thursday.
The shooting comes eight months after a stabbing left a student and another person hurt at the same park.
"It's a priority for us for students to feel safe going to and from school. Efforts will be made with extra patrols in the area to get that sense of security," said Scott.
Officials are investigating and asking anyone with information to contact Stockton Crime Stoppers.
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