17-Year-Old in Custody After Wilmer-Hutchins High School Shooting Injures Four Students; Community Reeling from Second Incident in a Year

Dallas, TX — April 16, 2025 — In a devastating and deeply alarming incident that has reignited calls for increased school safety measures, a 17-year-old student is in custody after allegedly opening fire at Wilmer-Hutchins High School on Tuesday afternoon, injuring four fellow students. The shooting occurred just after 1 p.m. and marks the second gun-related incident at the school in less than a year, leaving the Dallas community in a state of shock and heartbreak.

According to the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) and the Dallas Police Department, the shooter—whose name has not yet been released due to their age—was apprehended without incident late Tuesday evening following a multi-agency manhunt and extensive police response at the scene. Authorities have yet to publicly confirm a motive but stated the shooting appeared to be a targeted attack.

Emergency responders from the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department rushed to the school after receiving multiple 911 calls about shots fired inside the campus. Four male students were found injured—three of them from gunshot wounds and one with a lower-body injury, possibly sustained while attempting to flee the scene. All four victims were transported to nearby hospitals. As of Wednesday morning, their conditions ranged from serious to non-life-threatening.

Witnesses described a chaotic and terrifying scene inside the school as the sound of gunfire rang out. Students and staff were immediately placed on lockdown, and parents waited anxiously outside for news of their children’s safety.

“We heard the shots, and everyone just started running,” said one student, who asked to remain anonymous. “People were crying, calling their parents. We didn’t know if we were going to be okay. I’m still shaken.”

The shooting unfolded just over a year after a similar incident occurred at the same high school, making it an especially painful moment for the Wilmer-Hutchins community, which has struggled to heal from the trauma of past violence.

Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde addressed the media at a press conference late Tuesday, visibly emotional. “Quite frankly, this is just becoming way too familiar. And it should not be familiar,” she said. “No child should have to fear for their life at school. No parent should have to worry about whether their child will come home.”

Elizalde confirmed that counseling services would be provided to students, faculty, and families in the aftermath of the shooting. She also called for a renewed focus on addressing violence in schools and urged lawmakers and community leaders to prioritize mental health support and school safety infrastructure.

Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia condemned the act of violence and praised the swift actions of the first responders and school security staff. “This is not just a school issue. This is a community issue, a societal issue,” Garcia said. “We are committed to conducting a full investigation to determine exactly how this happened and what we can do to prevent future tragedies.”

Law enforcement officials confirmed that surveillance footage from inside the school helped identify the suspect and track his movements. The shooter was located hours later at a residence in southern Dallas and taken into custody without resistance. A handgun believed to have been used in the shooting was also recovered.

The suspect is currently being held at a juvenile detention facility and is expected to face multiple felony charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm on school premises. Prosecutors are also considering whether to charge the teen as an adult.

Parents and community leaders expressed deep concern about the recurring violence at Wilmer-Hutchins High School and questioned what measures had been put in place since the 2024 shooting.

“This is the second time in a year that we’ve had to go through this nightmare,” said Tamara Hill, a parent of a 10th-grade student. “How many more times is this going to happen before real change is made? We need metal detectors, more officers on campus—whatever it takes.”

Others emphasized the need to focus on underlying causes, such as mental health, social pressures, and easy access to firearms.

“This isn’t just about school security,” said Pastor Raymond Ellis, a community advocate who’s worked with at-risk youth in Dallas. “It’s about the mental and emotional state of our young people. They are hurting, they are angry, and they are not getting the help they need. We can’t keep ignoring this.”

In the wake of the shooting, classes at Wilmer-Hutchins High School have been suspended for the remainder of the week. DISD has announced that additional security personnel and mental health professionals will be deployed to the campus once it reopens.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a brief statement Tuesday evening expressing his condolences and pledging state support for the investigation and the community’s recovery. “Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and the entire Wilmer-Hutchins community,” Abbott said. “The State of Texas will provide every resource necessary to support healing and ensure justice is served.”

As the community grapples with this latest act of violence, memorials have begun to form outside the school, with students and parents placing candles, notes, and flowers near the front entrance. Messages like “We Are Hutch” and “Enough is Enough” reflect both the grief and the frustration felt by many.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to interview witnesses and review school surveillance footage. Officials are also working to determine how the student gained access to the firearm and whether others may have been involved or had knowledge of the shooting in advance.

This tragedy has once again sparked debate about gun control, school security, and youth mental health—not just in Dallas, but across the nation. For the families of the injured students and a community still recovering from past trauma, the road to healing will be long, but their message is clear: something must change, and it must change now.