The shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas on Tuesday is the second one in a year at the campus. In April 2024, a student brought a gun into the building and shot another student in the leg.
District officials said the guns used in both incidents were not brought into the school through normal procedures.
"The gun did not come through during regular intake time, so it was not a failure of our staff, of our protocols or of the machinery that we have," Dallas ISD Assistant Police Chief Christina Smith said. "It did not come in through regular intake."
That did not ease the minds of many parents, who picked up their children from the school on Tuesday afternoon.
"They have metal detectors here, for what? They don't work. No one's here protecting the kids," one parent said. "My kid's doing homeschool because this is the second time it happened here."
Following a citywide manhunt, the suspect voluntarily surrendered to authorities around 10 p.m. on Wednesday. He faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
"This tragedy underscores the importance of fostering a safe and nurturing environment for our students," Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said. "We will continue to work alongside law enforcement to ensure this campus is secure."
Wilmer-Hutchins High School will be closed through the end of the week. Mental health counselors and support teams will be made available to students and staff.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube