A 15-year-old teenager was found gunned down and killed at a birthday party attended by hundreds of pupils - after the shooter had been kicked out.
Laila Renee Harris, from Atlanta, US, was tragically found dead on Saturday at around 11am after police received reports of a shooting.
Authorities believe the killer had been kicked out of the party before returning with an accomplice - firing multiple rounds at the party. No one else was injured.
Clayton police spokesperson Julia Isaac said in a press conference: "'I assume when others were scattering and running, she was caught in the crossfire."
Police believe there should be at least one pupil who will know the identity of the killer as she refused to disclose potential suspects.
Friends and family of Laila's mum have set-up a GoFundMe page to help support them as organiser, Kailyn Crawford, launched the appeal.
She wrote: "She was tragically killed while attending a birthday party just doing what any fifteen-year-old likes to do, trying to have fun, and now we’ve lost her to a senseless act of violence."
Over $5,000 (£4,100) has been raised so far by her family and friends as they seek to raise money to bring Laila's body to her hometown in Saint Louis.
Authorities are pleading with locals to try and identify potential suspects and to be aware of children who are breaking into cars and accessing weapons.
Ms Isaac said: "I just ask that the parents know where their teenagers are. We get multiple reports a week of juveniles running away or sneaking away from home and then they come back a couple of hours later, or days later.
"It’s like a revolving door, because we do have mostly teenagers that break into cars. If they see guns inside of the cars, they’re going to break the window to get that gun and, in turn, they use that gun to commit another crime. So, it’s a full circle."
It is the second high school party shooting to happen on a Saturday after last week one person was killed and five others injured on 17th Street bridge in Atlantic Station.
A suspect fired at the victims said to be aged between 15 and 21.
Zyion Charles, 12, tragically died at the scene with a number of victims said to be in a critical condition.
