A suspect has turned himself into police after at least 3 teens were shot and another person grazed in a shooting at a Dallas ISD high school, police said.
DALLAS — A 17-year-old suspect has turned himself into police after at least three people were shot and another person was grazed at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas on Tuesday, prompting a large police response and mass evacuations of the campus, according to Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR).
DFR said reports of a shooting prompted the response, which began to unfold just after 1 p.m. at Wilmer-Hutchins High School, located on Langdon Road off Interstate 20 in Southeast Dallas.
By 1:45 p.m., the active threat had ended, a source told WFAA, and by 2:15 p.m., the campus had been secured, according to Dallas ISD officials.
Just after 9 p.m., the suspect turned himself in at Lew Sterrett Justice Center in Dallas, according to Dallas ISD Police. He is a student at Wilmer-Hutchins and was charged with aggravated assault, Dallas ISD police confirmed to WFAA. His bond was set at $600,000, according to jail records.
According to DFR spokesman Jason Evans, four victims were taken to the hospital — three, ages 15 to 18, with gunshot wounds and another whose condition “could only be identified as a musculoskeletal injury to the lower body.” The severity of their injuries ranges from non-life-threatening to serious conditions, Evans said. The victims are all males and were taken to Dallas Methodist, Baylor Scott and White and Parkland hospitals.
The Dallas Fire-Rescue source told WFAA that one of the victims was shot in the leg. The source said the victim was in stable condition, but no more details about his condition were immediately available.
Helicopter footage from the school showed numerous police vehicles, fire trucks and paramedics in the parking lot areas surrounding the school. At one point, helicopter footage captured dozens of students running from the school across a grassy area.
The students were eventually evacuated to the bleachers near the school’s football field and track area. According to Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde, classes at Wilmer-Hutchins High School have been canceled for the rest of the week, and mental health resources will be provided to students, faculty and staff.
“The unthinkable has happened and quite frankly, this is just becoming way too familiar, and it should not be familiar,” Elizalde said.
Nearby Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School was also placed on lockdown during the incident, but wasn’t in danger, Elizalde said. She said school would continue there this week, but with additional officers.
School district officials designated Eagles Stadium, located at 5520 Langdon Road, as the reunification building for families. The district required parents and guardians to bring a photo ID. Around 4:50 p.m., Dallas ISD officials announced that re-unification had concluded and Elizalde said all high school students had been reunited with their parents or guardians.
“We understand this is a difficult time and ask for your patience,” the school district officials said in a statement. “Counselors are on site and available for anyone who may need support.”
Dallas Police Assistant Chief Christina Smith confirmed the four injured were students.
“This is a tragic situation,” Asst. Chief Smith said.
Elizalde said she’s been in contact with Gov. Greg Abbott about the incident. He later issued a statement saying he’s seeking more funding to increase school safety measures across the state.
“Our hearts go out to the victims of this senseless act of violence at Wilmer-Hutchins High School,” said Governor Abbott. “I spoke with Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde and Dallas ISD Chief Albert Martinez. I offered to support the school district families, students, and staff and to provide law enforcement with the tools they need to arrest the criminals involved and bring them to justice. Since I’ve been Governor, Texas has provided over $3 billion in school safety funding. This session, I am seeking an additional $500 million to further safeguard schools across the state. Cecilia and I ask our fellow Texans to join us in praying for the victims’ swift recovery and for the entire Wilmer-Hutchins High School community.”
The response involved agencies from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Dallas police, Dallas Fire-Rescue, FBI, ATF and others.
Asst. Chief Smith said officials were able to confirm the gun didn’t get on campus during regular intake time.
Watch Tuesday’s full news conference below:
Friday evening, Waxahachie Police said its department became aware that the suspect could have been hiding inside a home in the area. Several law enforcement agencies responded, drawing their guns.
“Upon making contact, it was determined the suspect was not at the location, Waxahachie PD said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the shooting and their families… [WPD] would like to thank the agencies who responded to ensure the safety of the community. “
“I’m deeply troubled to learn that a shooting has taken place at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas. Our schools should never be places of violence. I’m grateful to the [Dallas PD] and [DFR] for their swift response to this situation,” Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson posted on X.
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett on Tuesday said she was “heartbroken to learn of yet another shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School — nearly one year after the last.”
“My prayers are with the students, teachers, and families who are once again forced to live through this nightmare,” Crockett said. “No child should fear for their life at school. No teacher should have to barricade a classroom door. Let me be clear: this is not normal. This is not acceptable. Guns do not belong in our schools. Every student deserves to learn in a safe environment.”
A moment of silence was held on the Texas House floor following a speech from Rep. Aicha Davis who represents the district where the school resides. Davis asked for prayers for her district, students, law enforcement, emergency responders, and more. Then, House Speaker Dustin Burrows asked members to stand for a moment of silence.
Wilmer-Hutchins High School shooting: What did witnesses see and hear?
A high school senior at Wilmer-Hutchins High School detailed the moments after the shooting started. The student was also at school during last year’s shooting.
The student told WFAA he saw his friend get shot.
WFAA spoke with a woman who said she has two sons that attend Wilmer-Hutchins High School. She said one of her sons frantically called her to tell her there was a shooting.
“It’s a parent’s worst nightmare,” she told WFAA’s Jobin Panicker.
Another witness at the scene told WFAA’s Cole Sullivan that her sister texted her from inside the school when the shooting happened.
“She told me she was one of the last people to get out. There was a lot of screaming, she heard three bullets come from the cafeteria,” she said.
A parent who said her daughter attends Wilmer-Hutchins High School said her daughter called her and told her there was a shooting at the school and she was safe, but she hasn’t been able to reach her since then.
“I want to make sure she’s OK,” she told WFAA. “It just hurts.”
The parent was later able to reunite with her daughter.
Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins, whose district includes Wilmer-Hutchins, called the shooting “a sad say for DISD.”
“I’m thankful for all the fire department, the police department, the state troopers…came to the rescue at a fast pace and secured the school,” Atkins said. “The school is safe now.”
Tuesday’s incident wasn’t the first emergency response at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in recent memory.
Last year, in April 2024, a shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School left one student injured.
In the 2024 incident, officials said that the shooting occurred after a student brought a handgun into school, despite there being metal detectors and a clear-bag policy in place. According to Dallas ISD Police Chief Albert Martinez, the metal detector did go off when the student went through it, however, a proper bag check was not followed.
This error raised serious concerns for parents, students and community members. And in response, Martinez said they would retrain the staff on metal detectors and bag checking.
Another critique of the incident response was the reunification process. However, Martinez said it had to be slow and methodical so that police could ensure every student was getting back to the proper person.