Teen who shot four at Dallas school targeted specific student: Police chief

The 17-year-old student who opened fire at Wilmer-Hutchins High School was targeting a specific student, though the exact motive for the shooting remains unclear, Dallas Independent School District Police Chief Albert Martinez was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

The suspect managed to gain entry to the school at 1:01 p.m. after another student opened a locked side door, despite the school having metal detectors at its main entrance.

Following the shooting, the suspect fled the scene and was taken into custody several hours later. He was charged with aggravated assault and mass shooting. Martinez mentioned that the police are investigating the role of the student who opened the door for the suspect.

The four male students who were shot were taken to local hospitals, but all are expected to recover fully. The incident prompted a large law enforcement presence at the school, which has around 1,000 students.

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According to an arrest warrant, the suspect drove to the school just before 1 p.m., walked through a hallway, and started firing indiscriminately at a group of students. He then approached one student who could not run and appeared to shoot him at point-blank range.

The suspect’s bond has been set at USD 600,000, and jail records do not show an attorney representing him. This is not the first violent incident at the school. Earlier in April 2024, a student shot another in the leg.

(With inputs from Associated Press)