Teenage student killed in 'accidental' shooting at Alabama high school

A 17-year-old girl has been killed in an apparently accidental shooting at a US high school.

Police are investigating the incident at Huffman High School in Alabama which also left a 17-year-old boy injured.

Birmingham Interim Police Chief Orlando Wilson said: "At this particular time, we are considering this accidental. Right now we have a lot of unanswered questions."

The shooting on Wednesday afternoon prompted a brief lockdown of the school. Authorities later said they had determined that the shooting was not carried out by "someone from outside" the school.

"We are asking questions from the staff, the students, anyone who was in that area," Mr Wilson said. "This should not happen in schools."

Huffman High in northeast Birmingham is one of the largest high schools in the city

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said the deceased student would have turned 18 in about 30 days and was a senior "who had aspirations and dreams to be a nurse."

"We are not just talking about some person, (we're) talking about losing a part of our future. Our hearts are heavy," Woodfin said.

Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Lisa Herring said her goal was to support the family of the teen who died and to reassure parents about the safety of their children.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey released a statement Wednesday evening that she was saddened by the student's death.

"I am praying for the family of this young lady who has tragically lost her life way too early ... it reaffirms that there is no place for students to have firearms or other weapons on campus."

It comes as Democrats are seeking measures to limit or ban the sale of assault weapons.