(Police Reports - Photo Illustration/MetroCreative)

PARKERSBURG – Parkersburg Police are investigating the shooting of two people Monday afternoon in south Parkersburg.

The incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m.

Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board said the shooting happened around Belmont Road where investigating officers were on the scene. Additional details were unavailable.

Wood County Schools Superintendent Christi Willis said three schools were being impacted by the situation.

Parkersburg South High School and Gihon Elementary School were on lockdown with no one entering or leaving those buildings. Officials said this was due to the incident’s close proximity to Gihon Elementary as well as Parkersburg South’s proximity to the area.

Franklin Elementary School was on lockout, meaning no one was allowed into the school building but children could be released to a parent or guardian. The incident occurred right around the dismissal time for pre-K students.

Board said that was done out of an “abundance of caution.”

“The shooting, in and of itself, was unrelated to school or school personnel and did not occur on school grounds,” he said. “It was in close proximity to one of the schools.”

The lockdown and lockout were lifted by 2:40 p.m. and dismissals at all the schools were running on the normal schedule, Willis said.

Wood County Schools sent a message to parents at 2:45 p.m.

“We want to inform you that Parkersburg South High School and Gihon Elementary were briefly placed on lockdown, and Franklin Elementary was placed on lockout, following a drive-by shooting incident that occurred near Belmont Road in South Parkersburg,” the message said. “Law enforcement responded immediately, and the situation was resolved quickly — prior to Wood County Schools being able to send out a notification.

“At no point were any of our students or staff in danger. All schools have now returned to normal operations. Students are safe, and dismissal will take place as usual today. Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we work to keep our schools safe.”

Board said the investigation is continuing.