DALLAS, Texas — Another tragedy unfolded Tuesday afternoon at Wilmer-Hutchins High School, as a shooting left four students injured — almost exactly a year after a similar incident rocked the same campus. The April 15 shooting has once again cast a harsh spotlight on school safety protocols and left the local community demanding answers.
According to Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde, four students aged 15 to 18 were injured. Three were shot — one seriously — and a fourth was grazed by a bullet. Dallas Fire-Rescue transported the victims to Baylor Scott & White and Methodist Hospital Dallas. All are expected to recover, according to Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins.
The shooting occurred inside the school at 5520 Langdon Road shortly after 1 p.m., prompting a lockdown and mass evacuation. Students fled to the adjacent Eagle Stadium while the campus swarmed with Dallas police, firefighters, paramedics, and agents from the FBI and ATF. By 2:20 p.m., authorities confirmed the building was secure.
While the shooter initially fled the scene, Dallas police later confirmed that 17-year-old Tracy Haynes was taken into custody and booked into the Dallas County Jail at 9:32 p.m. on April 15, 2025. He is facing a charge of aggravated assault in a mass shooting
A Painful Repeat
This is the second shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins in just over a year. In April 2024, a student was shot in the leg in the parking lot. A juvenile suspect was arrested. For many parents and students, the recurrence is too much to bear. One parent, Elizabeth Ray, told KERA News she plans to pull her daughter from the school, saying, “Twice is too many.”
Officials say the suspect in Tuesday’s shooting was let in by someone already inside the school — bypassing the district’s metal detectors and clear backpack policies. Dallas ISD Police confirmed the weapon was not brought in during normal intake procedures, raising new concerns about access control and internal security lapses.
Officials Respond, But Questions Linger
Classes at Wilmer-Hutchins High have been canceled for the rest of the week. Elementary campuses remain open. Counselors are being deployed, and DISD says it will provide reunification plans for families.
In a press conference, a visibly emotional Superintendent Elizalde reaffirmed DISD’s commitment to safety, even as she acknowledged the difficulty of preventing every threat.
Gov. Greg Abbott offered his condolences and noted that Texas has spent more than $3 billion on school safety since he took office, with another $500 million proposed in the current session. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson also expressed concern, with Crockett noting that last year’s shooting had already sparked student protests over lax safety.
“Enough Is Enough”
The shooting has renewed calls for stricter school safety and broader gun violence prevention. Student Sevynn Jones said she heard chaos erupt in the hallway — a fear she won’t forget. Parents, shaken and angry, are questioning whether metal detectors and backpack rules are enough.
The fact that the suspect was reportedly let in by someone else raises troubling concerns: Can any protocol truly work when basic vigilance breaks down? And how do schools account for internal threats?
Looking Ahead
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities are asking the public to avoid the area. Meanwhile, a school meant to be a safe haven sits shuttered — and the community, once again, is left reeling.
For Wilmer-Hutchins families, the school may reopen next week. But for many, trust won’t return nearly as quickly. The bigger question remains: What will it take to finally keep kids safe?
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