A regular Tuesday afternoon turned into a nightmare at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas, when gunfire rang out in the school halls, leaving four students injured — three of them with gunshot wounds.
The victims, all between 15 to 18 years old, are being treated for injuries that range from serious to non-life-threatening, according to Dallas Fire-Rescue officials.
The shooting was reported around 1 PM, sending panic through the campus as students rushed out of classrooms. Eyewitnesses described the chaos in chilling detail.
“I turned around and heard seven shots. I grabbed a teacher and ran inside,” said student Patrick Campos. “Everyone was just running.”
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene. Helicopters hovered overhead as worried parents waited for updates, and students were seen being evacuated from the school premises.
At an afternoon press briefing, Dallas ISD officials confirmed that the shooter had been identified but was initially on the run. Later that evening, police apprehended the suspect, who is now in custody at Dallas County Jail.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time tragedy has hit this school. Just last year, another student was shot in a classroom — highlighting ongoing safety concerns.
Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde addressed the media with a heavy heart:
“The unthinkable has happened again. And quite frankly, this is becoming far too familiar. It shouldn’t be.”
According to the district, the weapon didn’t enter the building during the standard metal-detector screening, but it’s still unclear how the gun ultimately made its way inside.
“This is a very active and fresh investigation,” said Assistant Chief Christina Smith of the district police. “We know who the suspect is, but we’re still piecing together what happened before the shooting.”
In response, classes at Wilmer-Hutchins High will be canceled for the rest of the week, and counselors are being made available to help students and staff cope with the trauma.
