Thea Digiammerino

Circumstances Unclear on Death of 15-Year-Old After Shooting in Guilford

A 15-year-old Guilford High School freshman is dead after a shooting in Guilford on Wednesday afternoon, according to Guilford police, and the circumstances surrounding his death are unclear.

Police said they were called to 104 Seaside Ave. around 3:30 p.m. for reports of a gunshot victim and found 15-year-old Ethan Song. He was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The circumstances around Song's death are unclear and the autopsy results on Thursday were not conclusive and they are pending further investigation, according to police.

"This is really an incredibly tragic event for our town," said Guilford Police Chief Jeffrey Hutchinson.

Police did not have details on the circumstances of the shooting, but said Song was with another teen and no adults were home at the time of the shooting. Song did not live in the home, police said.

Police are not releasing the name of the other teen who was in the house.

The shooting happened on what was an early release day for the school, officials said during a news conference Thursday morning.

"Officially, we have no reason to believe that that other individual even is one of our students. Today is about Ethan," Supt. Paul Freeman said. "Today is about recognizing that loss and supporting our students as they deal with that loss."

Freeman said Ethan was an involved young man with siblings in the Guilford school system.

“They are an integral part of the fabric of the community,” Freeman said.

Freeman said that if other Guilford children or students are involved, the school district and the town will do everything possible to support those students and those families as well.

"As far as making any guesses as to what happened, we can’t do that right now. There’s a lot more work to be done," Hutchinson said.

Freeman said during a news conference Thursday that there is no indication that what happened Wednesday afternoon was related to anything at school.

Guilford High School is putting together a crisis response team and will have counselors available at the school today. School officials said Ethan had gone through the Guilford school system and graduated from Adams Middle School.

Freeman said a support team is available at Adams Middle School as well as the elementary school Ethan went to.

The Women and Family Life Center in Guilford is also offering support for the community. The center will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday to provide a place for residents to come together.

During a news conference, local officials said they will be lowering the flags in memory of Ethan Song after receiving permission from the governor and they are urging others to do the same.

"It’s really weird to think about in a small town like this that something that crazy could happen," said Guilford High junior Jeremy Rothstein.

The case remains under investigation.

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