Philadelphia student, 18, shot himself in the leg inside school gym, police say

An 18-year-old Philadelphia student is recovering after police believe he shot himself in the leg in a West Philadelphia school gymnasium.

PHILADELPHIA - A large number of police and emergency crews responded to a Philadelphia public school on Friday after officials say a student shot himself in the leg in the school gymnasium.

Authorities were called to the Philadelphia Learning Academy on the 4300 block of Westminster Avenue around noon.

Sergeant Eric Gripp of the Philadelphia Police Department said an 18-year-old student shot himself once in the left leg in the gymnasium.

The student was taken to an area hospital in stable condition, according to Gripp.

MORE LOCAL HEADLINES

After an hours-long search, Philadelphia Police with the help of a K9 were able to recover the weapon. The weapon was reportedly recovered about a block away from the school.

Approximately 170 people, including students and faculty, were evacuated from the school immediately following the incident. Everyone will re-enter the school through a metal detector, according to police.

Gripp says students are required to pass through a metal detector whenever entering the school, so officers are working to determine how the firearm got inside the building.

At the time of the shooting, police say 30 to 40 other people were with the student who was injured.

No additional injuries have been reported by police at this time and no arrests or charges were reported immediately following the shooting.