A 17-year-old Sylacauga High School student is in critical condition after being assaulted Friday night.

Sylacauga police officers responded to the report of an assault in the parking lot of the old Ace Hardware store at around 10 p.m. There they found a teenager bleeding from the head.

The teenager was transported by Sylacauga ambulance to Coosa Valley Medical Center and later transported via helicopter to UAB. He is currently in critical condition from a head injury.

"There are many rumors afloat on social media that this incident may be stemming from an incident" at Sylacauga High School, police said in a statement on Saturday. "This is at this time only rumors. It is however a part of the investigation.

"SPD is asking that the community allow us to do our jobs and not jump to conclusions about why this incident happened," the statement continued. "SPD is praying for the victim and his family and also for our community. I believe I speak for everybody when I say 'the violence needs to stop, whether it is from the incident at the high school or for any other reason.'"

Sylacauga Police Department is working to interview witnesses and reviewing video. Anyone with information is asked to call SPD at 256-401-2450.