Former student, 25, at Houston middle school is arrested after opening fire on children and injuring a worker
- Houston Police arrested a 25-year-old alumnus of the Yes Prep Southwest Secondary for opening fire at the middle school
- Dexter Kelsey shot his way in through the window and injured the principal
- Principal Eric Espinoza was in serious condition after the bullet grazed his spine
- Police urged residents to avoid the area as they search for other suspects
A former student at a Houston middle school has been arrested after opening fire on students, and injuring the school principal on Friday.
The Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner said the suspect, Dexter Kelsey, is a 25-year-old former student of the YES Prep Southwest Secondary middle school who entered the school by shooting through the entry windows.
He immediately shot principal Eric Espinoza when he entered.
The Kesey later surrendered to police and is currently in custody.
Espinoza was listed in serious condition after the bullet grazed his spine. He is expected to live and be released from the hospital on Friday, according to the school.
Officers were guiding students and residents away from the site of the shooting
The shooting took place at the Yes Prep Southwest Secondary middle school
Police informed parents of the current state of the investigation
The incident took place at 11:45 am on Friday at the school’s campus in Houston, Texas. Authorities cleared the scene after 2 pm when parents arrived to pick up their children.
Police were at the scene guiding students and parents away from the area as they searched for other possible shooters.
The Houston Fire Department added that they were on the scene, ‘treating and transporting’ Espinoza.
Live TV footage from the scene showed students and parents crying and holding each other as ambulances and police cars drove to the school.
Yes Prep Southwest Secondary is a charter school that serves middle schoolers in grades six through 12. The campus has about 1,000 students, ABC 13 reports.
The school posted the news to Facebook alerting parents to the shooting.
‘ATTENTION FAMILIES: Police are on campus with a suspect in custody who opened fire inside the school,’ the school wrote. ‘No students have been injured. Students have been transported to W. Fuqua and Hiram Clarke, where they can be picked up.’
‘Please do not drive to the school; roads are blocked by Houston Police Department. We are gathering information and will pass along as soon as we can.’
The school has announced that it will meet with students and families before classes resume next Wednesday.
‘We cannot imagine the terror you must have felt as the events unfolded. [Friday’s] shocking incident is one that no student, parent or educator should ever have to go through or cope with on their own. We have counselors standing by to help anyone needing support over the weekend, next week, and through the school year,’ the school wrote.
This is a developing story.