Sandy Hook Promise Statement on School Shooting in Dallas, Texas

NEWTOWN, Conn. – At least four people have been hospitalized following a shooting that occurred at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas, Texas Tuesday afternoon. Local officials have stated that three of the individuals were shot and their injuries range from serious to non-life-threatening. A 17-year-old suspect has been arrested.

This shooting occurred almost exactly one year after a targeted shooting took place in a classroom at Wilmer-Hutchins High School on April 12, 2024. In that incident, one student shot another student in the leg following a dispute. There were no fatalities.

Firearms are the leading cause of death for Texas children and teens. Nearly 300 young people under the age of 17 were killed in Texas by guns in 2022, based on most recent available finalized data from CDC. Additionally, there have been at least eight school shooting incidents in Texas since the start of 2024, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database.

In response to yesterday’s shooting, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:

“Wilmer-Hutchins High School is reported to have security in place including cameras, metal detectors, and clear backpacks – as it had during last year’s attack, too. But security features like these do not prevent violence on their own. We must teach youth and adults to recognize the warning signs and how to get help when seeing concerning behaviors. We must also foster a positive school climate that equips youth with the skills to de-escalate conflict peacefully. And lastly, gun owners must act responsibly with their firearms, ensuring they are never accessible to children.

“By taking an upstream approach that address the root causes of violence, the next school shooting can be prevented. We stand with the community of Dallas in advocating for a safer future for all children, and proven solutions like these that save lives.

“This type of senseless violence creates lasting trauma for everyone involved – for those who were injured, and for the entire school community of students, parents, teachers, staff and residents. While we are incredibly grateful to hear that no lives were taken in this terrible event, we know the aftermath of this shooting will create a range of challenges and questions for the community – compounded by the fact that a shooting has taken place at this school before. Now is the time for healing and reflection about the changes that need to happen to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”

For more information about programs that are proven to prevent violence in schools, in addition to other resources for how to take action to prevent gun violence, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.

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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.