Wichita school in mourning after student allegedly shot and killed by his mother

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A 14-year-old boy is dead, and his mother is injured after she was shot by SWAT officers. Police say they believe the boy was “shot and killed by his mother.”

The Northwest High School community is dealing with the shocking loss. Claude Hodges was a freshman at Northwest. District representatives say many kids in the high school had grown up with Hodges as he had attended Wichita Public Schools since he was in elementary school.

A specialist with Wichita’s School Counselors Program says she spent the day at the high school consoling kids. She says they all say Hodges was kind, fun, liked everyone, and had a big personality and incredible smile.

WPS School Counselors Program Specialist Stephanie Anderson says one classmate remembered Hodges’ kindness at a third-grade class party when the student left a treat behind.

“When he came back, his cupcake was missing, so Claude shared his cupcake with him and just a kind kid from the very beginning,” said Anderson.

Anderson says the district is making sure students are aware of existing counseling services at the school. She says grief comes and goes, so she wants to make sure kids have access to in-house resources.

Anderson says the district is making sure students are aware of existing counseling services at the school. She says grief comes and goes, so she wants to make sure kids have access to in-house resources.