Armed student injured in police shooting at Mesquite school
MESQUITE – A student is in custody after bringing a handgun to the Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy Oates campus in Mesquite Monday morning.
Mesquite Police said it began when the 16-year-old student walked into a school office with a firearm and refused to put it down. A school administrator called 911 while other school administrators kept the suspect calm until officers arrived. When they did, they said the suspect was alone in the office.
MPD says officers attempted to negotiate with the student.
Witnesses heard around three gunshots coming from inside the school just before 9 am.
"I came outside, just checking on a part. And all I hear was 'pop, pop, pop', gunshots," said witness Chris Miller.
Police say three officers fired at the student, who was taken to a local hospital in stable condition. The student's identity is being withheld as he is a minor.
Meanwhile, students and teachers thought it was a drill at first.
"And once they heard the noises and the police come in, that's when they completely lost it," said teacher and parent Shanterria Rider. "They all started bawling really hard, like, 'Oh, this is real.'"
A student's video from inside a classroom shows what it was like for students at the Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy this morning when a school day turned terrifying.
The student who recorded this video told CBS News Texas, "I was really nervous. The teacher was telling us to calm down and stay silent. Some of us were silent or texting or calling their families."
Rider was teaching reading to 5th graders and worrying about her own two children at the school.
"You as a teacher, you can't freak out, because then it's going to make them scared. Then all I was thinking about was, 'Okay, where are my kids?'"
According to a letter from the school's superintendent Shubham Pandey, "thanks to the swift actions" of the school staff and implementation of the safety plan and procedures, the situation was contained. No other students or officers were injured.
Gov. Abbott thanked the officers for responding quickly and the school staff for evacuating students and reuniting families.
"Their courage protected their fellow Texans and the Mesquite community," Abbott said via X.
Students were released to their parents at a nearby church. Although it was Presidents Day, class was in session at the campus.
"I'm going home. I'm going to pray," said Rider. "I'm going to talk to God, for sure. Count my blessings."
The school says resources will be made available to students, and classes will continue as scheduled this week.
The Mesquite Police Criminal Investigations Unit and Internal Affairs Unit are investigating. A separate and independent investigation will also be conducted by the Dallas County District Attorney's Office.
This story is developing and will be updated.
