A 15-year-old student shot a teacher at a Texas high school before turning the gun on himself and dying at the scene, authorities said Monday.
The incident took place at Hill Country College Preparatory High School in Bulverde, according to the Comal County Sheriff’s Office, which shared details in a social media update. No other injuries were reported, and officials have not yet indicated a possible motive.
The injured teacher was taken to a hospital in San Antonio, though there was no immediate update on her condition. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office confirmed to The Associated Press that the student died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Following the shooting, the school was placed under lockdown. Students were later transported to a nearby middle school, where anxious parents gathered in long lines, some praying, as they waited to reunite with their children.
Jesse Lopez, a parent, told KSAT-TV that explaining the situation to his daughter would not be easy.
“For one, she has autism, and she’ll be afraid to go back, she’ll be real afraid to go back,” Lopez said.
The incident also comes as Texas moves toward stricter rules on cellphone use in public schools. Sarah Valdez, whose son attends the school as a freshman, said her immediate concern during the lockdown was simply hearing his voice.
She told KSAT-TV she called him despite knowing students were not supposed to be using their phones.
Hill Country College Preparatory High School, part of the Comal Independent School District, is designed to prepare students for college through a curriculum focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, or STEAM.
The school, which opened in August 2020 with its first freshman class, now serves grades nine through 12 and has an enrollment of around 260 students, according to the district’s website.
