Shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School Leaves Five Students Injured

DALLAS, Texas — Five students were injured Tuesday afternoon in a shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School when a 17-year-old allegedly entered the school and fired a weapon “indiscriminately,” according to an affidavit linked to the suspect’s arrest warrant.

The injured students, aged 15 to 18, were transported to a local hospital, with injuries ranging from non-life-threatening to serious, said Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson Jason Evans. Initially, police had reported four students injured, but the affidavit later confirmed five victims.

The suspected gunman, a student of the same school, is currently detained at the Dallas County jail faced with a first-degree aggravated assault mass shooting charge, classified as a felony, with a bond set at $600,000. It remains unclear whether he has retained an attorney or made a court appearance.

The incident unfolded just after 1 p.m., and the first school officer responded within two minutes, with additional law enforcement quickly arriving at the scene, reported Stephanie Elizalde, superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District, during a news conference.

Surveillance footage circulating on social media appears to depict chaotic moments during the incident, capturing students fleeing as the shooter confronted another student. The video, matching descriptions in the affidavit obtained by CNN, has not been independently verified.

The affidavit indicated that the suspect gained entry to the school around 1:03 p.m. when another student opened an unsecured door, allowing him to bypass metal detectors. Authorities are currently questioning the student who opened the door and will impose administrative penalties for violating the student code of conduct.

As detailed in the affidavit, the suspect brandished a firearm, shooting at students. One victim who was unable to escape was shot at point-blank range, according to police reports. Investigators have not disclosed a motive for the violence, as the situation remains under active investigation.

Christina Smith, the assistant police chief for the school district, confirmed the ongoing inquiry, stating, “This is just becoming way too familiar, and it should not be familiar.”

Classes at Wilmer-Hutchins High School have been canceled for the remainder of the week. Upon resuming, the school will enhance security measures by stationing staff at 13 entrances to prevent unauthorized access.

This shooting is notably the second incident at the high school within a year; in April 2024, a similar event involved a student bringing a handgun into the school, also bypassing the security measures in place.

Nearby Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School was placed on lockdown as a precaution, though officials reassured that it was not in danger. Classes were lifted from lockdown on Wednesday and Thursday, but heightened police presence will continue.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott reached out to Superintendent Elizalde to discuss the school district’s needs and to offer state resources in the aftermath of the shooting. Abbott expressed condolences to the victims, stating, “Our hearts go out to the victims of this senseless act of violence.” He assured ongoing support for families, students, and staff in the wake of this tragedy and pledged assistance in bringing those responsible to justice.