Middle school students to wear purple to support classmate Alyssa Howe

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - Hundreds of Lee's Summit middle school students are wearing purple Tuesday to support classmate Alyssa Howe.

Police said a 13-year-old girl was shot in the head on Friday afternoon. They said the shooting was accidental. Neighbors and friends of Alyssa said she was the victim.

"All of the parties involved in the immediate area were teens. There was an adult in the house who was on a different level of the house when the incident occurred," said Sgt. Chris Depue.

Depue said no charges have been filed, but it will be up to prosecutors to decide if the gun owner will be charged. Alyssa was still in serious condition Monday at a local hospital.

"I love her and I know that she will make it through this ‘cause she is strong and she won't let anything take her and tear her apart," said friend Kayla Bock.

Kayla and her friend Sydney Cereceres said they visit the hospital every day. They said Alyssa is in a medically induced coma.

"Keep praying because she needs all the prayers she can get," said Kayla.

Kayla said students at all of the district's middle schools will wear purple to support Alyssa.

"Tomorrow we are trying to get everyone to wear purple because that was her favorite color and just to show that we care," said Sydney.

Friends are spreading the news on Twitter #prayforAlly