Just yesterday afternoon, an active shooter situation unfolded at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas. Four students were wounded, which sparked national outrage and an immediate police presence on their campus. Aerial video recorded on the scene showed dozens of police cars parked outside the school. In the meantime, law enforcement officers were hard at work, focusing to protect activity in the area. The suspect is in custody, per a statement from the school district.
At a news conference brought together just hours after the shooting, law enforcement released few details. All three injured students were between the ages of 15 and 18, and all sustained gunshot wounds. In turn, the fourth student accidentally shot came in the lower body. We still do not know the exact age of the student ending up in the hospital for a non-gunshot injury.
My deepest prayers & condolences go out to the family shot in Sunday’s attack. He continued, “Our hearts are with the victims of this senseless act of violence. The governor’s statement is indicative of a growing concern about school safety and gun violence in our state of Texas.
The 1,000-student campus attracted a massive deployment of police and other law enforcement officers. Christina Smith, assistant police chief for the Dallas Independent School District, noted that the weapon did not enter the school premises during “regular intake time.” She was quick to point out that the incident reflects not a failure of staff or of protocols in place.
In the wake of the shooting, local parents expressed their concerns. Shauna Williams, a parent with two children attending the school, shared her concerns about safety. These days, she’s rethinking the idea of sending her kids to school at all. She’s considering homeschooling.
In the aftermath of the traumatic event, Stephanie Elizalde, then newly appointed superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District, took some decisive action. She announced a week-long suspension of classes over the planned school closure at Wilmer-Hutchins High School. She confirmed that counselors would be on hand to help students cope with this tragic event.
Elizalde shared her frustration regarding the frequency of such incidents: “Quite frankly, this is just becoming way too familiar. It should not be familiar.” She admitted there are still lots of questions out there and warned against operating under possibly flawed intel.
Authorities provided reassurance that students and parents were safely reunited following evacuations of the area earlier in the day. Thanks to the quick actions of law enforcement and emergency services, the safety and security of those within the chaos was preserved.
Even as investigations play out, the community will have to deal with the emotional impact of this unspeakable act. This increased collaboration on student safety continues to be a priority among school leaders and SROs.