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Study Finds Gunfire Occurs Near Many D.C. Schools

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new study shows that large numbers of District of Columbia school students could hear gunfire near their school buildings during the 2011-2012 school year.

The study released Wednesday by the Urban Institute examined District public and charter schools that are in areas covered by gunfire-detection technology. It found that 54 percent of those schools had at least one gunshot fired within 1,000 feet of the school during the year.

A handful of schools were close to a disproportionate amount of gun violence. Nearly half the gunfire occurred within 1,000 feet of just 9 percent of schools, and four schools had 9 to 11 incidents within 500 feet. Those schools are all east of the Anacostia River in neighborhoods that have historically endured more violence than elsewhere in the District.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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