ONE woman is dead and at least one other injured after someone opened fire in a parking lot near the Mount Zion High School in Georgia.

An evening graduation ceremony was being conducted across the street from the school at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center when the gunshots rang out. Clayton County Fire has since told local media the victims were not students from the school.

The Clayton County Fire Department confirms there were three victims who were transported to area hospitals. One victim was taken to Atlanta Medical Center, while another was taken to Piedmont Henry Hospital.

A third victim was taken to Southern Regional, but was later pronounced dead.

Justil Wilfon, who is at the scene, says the incident happened in a parking lot just outside the school: “Clayton County fire tells me two women were shot, one in the leg, another multiple times in the chest. The woman who was shot in the chest has died.”

He says there is a heavy police presence, with a helicopter casting its spotlight on the surrounding grounds from overhead.

Mount Zion High school is a public school located in Jonesboro, Georgia. It has more than 1200 students.

On the school’s website, the principal has posted a message about school safety that reads: “Everyone must feel safe at school, on the school bus, or at school activities, day or night. Students shall not bring the following weapons at any time: knives, mace (protective spray device), tasers, incendiary devices, guns (including a starter gun, look alike weapons or any object appearing to be a gun), and explosives.

“Remember, safety is everyone’s responsibility, so IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING!”

The incident comes just hours after a student walked into classrooms in Santa Fe, Texas, killing nine fellow students and one teacher. He has been detained in custody.