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A Houston school principal was injured Friday when a former student opened fire inside a charter school, sending children running out of the building and forcing nearby schools to take temporary shelter in place before the shooter surrenders to the authorities without injuring any student.
The terror began when the 25-year-old suspect, whose name was not immediately released, entered YES Prep Southwest Secondary at 4411 Anderson Road by shooting at a glass door that was locked, the police chief said. from Houston, Troy Finner. Immediately after entering, the suspect shot an administrator, later identified as the principal, in the back. He surrendered without incident and the police confiscated a rifle.
Police did not release the name of the gunman, but KHOU reported him as Dexter Kelsey.
Officers responding to the call for an ongoing shooting reported at around 11:45 a.m. that they administered first aid to the employee, who was later identified by the school as Principal Eric Espinoza. He was rushed to hospital and is expected to be released later on Friday.
At the end of the Friday afternoon, we still did not know what had started the shooting.
“It could have been a lot worse,” Finner said. “The most important thing is this: I think we have over 1,000 students – I was told – and no student is injured. We pray for the school employee and think it’s a good day – think it’s a good day given. “
Student Miguel Granados describes the shoot at YES Prep Southwest Secondary at 4411 Anderson Road. Video: Marie D De Jesus Houston Chronicle, Laura Duclos
There have been about a dozen shooting incidents at major Houston-area campuses – including colleges – since 2015, according to data from Everytown for Gun Safety. In most situations, only one person was injured. The deadliest happened in 2017 at Sante Fe High School when a student killed 10 people and injured 13 others.
A student at Bellaire High School in 2020 was shot and killed in what police called an accidental shooting. His classmate was charged with death.
In a letter to students and families, Yes Prep identified the principal as “Espinoza (who) was taken to hospital after a bullet grazed him from behind.” Police announced Friday night that he was released from the hospital.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the letter read: “We are canceling classes Monday through Wednesday, and we will meet with students and families next week before classes resume. More details will be shared with you soon.
“We cannot imagine the terror you must have felt as the events unfolded. Today’s shocking incident is one that no student, parent or educator should ever have to go through. or manage on your own. We have counselors ready to help anyone who needs support over the weekend, next week and throughout the school year, ”said letter from Mark DiBella, CEO of Yes Prep Public Schools.
DiBella wrote that the school had been closed. By the time the authorities secured the building, fears of the worst had already spread among families and young people.
A young boy said he was in class taking notes when the principal started shouting, “Run, run”.
The boy saw glass sprinkled all over the place and blood spattered on the floor as he ran out. A bloody shoe print remained on the ground while police worked at the crime scene, the grade 6 student noted.
“All I’ve heard is the officers screaming. They were shouting “drop the gun, drop the gun,” said Hector Vazquez, 11, as he collapsed and stood close to his siblings and parents. “They kept saying that.”
During this time, her sister was still inside the building on a higher floor.
“My whole family was texting me,” said Kimberly Flores, 15. “We were like the last people to come out. So traumatic.
ISD Houston said it has placed nearby campuses in temporary shelter as authorities investigate the first reports. The precautionary measure was lifted on Friday afternoon.
In a statement, officials with the charter school system YES Prep Public Schools said no students were involved in the incident and directed the parents to a nearby location to pick up their children. The system operates 23 schools with more than 17,000 students in Houston, according to its website.
Near the pickup site, Destiny Lidia, 14, met her uncle, a firefighter who attended the scene as soon as he heard about the shooting.
By that time, however, the shooting had already injected anxiety pains equivalent to a panic attack. The panic started when she received a message warning her from a gunman inside their school and she began to worry about her brother, who was on the other side of the building.
“I never thought that would happen,” Destiny said as she waited to meet her brother in the parking lot and while her mother sobbed. “It’s traumatic.
Another teenager said he was having lunch in his cafeteria when he saw the school principal cross the room to warn the gunman’s children.
“He was the one who alerted us,” said Miguel Granados, 17.
Miguel sprinted, along with about 80 other students. They all crammed into a classroom in the school gymnasium, he said.
“Everyone was panicking,” he said. “All the girls were crying.
Miguel said he and other boys started moving stacks of chairs outside the door to block it out while looking for any items they could potentially use as weapons if they needed them to defend themselves.
“I had a pair of scissors in my hands,” he said.
Eventually, Miguel said, a trainer entered the classroom and announced that anyone could go out to try and find their family.
He gave his mother a hug when they found themselves in a mall down the street. His mother clung to him and cried, rocking back and forth and thanking God her son was safe.
This report will be updated.
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