Westbury High School: Houston ISD student shot on Dryad Street near campus; no suspect has been arrested yet | Today’s news
A Westbury High School student was shot and killed near the Houston ISD campus Friday morning, the Houston Police Department said. The victim, 17, was a senior at a southwest Houston high school.
Authorities say the shooting happened around 8:21 a.m. at the end of Dryad Street.
The Westbury High School shooting case
Police Chief Noe Diaz said the incident happened at a place where students usually gather before classes start each day.
“Someone came out of a nearby wooded area in a nearby (apartment) complex and from that we believe words were exchanged and someone produced a gun and unfortunately someone lost their life as a result of what I call a cowardly act,” Diaz said at a news conference this morning.
No suspects or arrests
No other students or staff were injured, police said, according to ABC News.
The identity of the deceased has not yet been released.
Meanwhile, no suspect has been arrested. Although an investigation has been launched. “We are working diligently to make sure we get someone into custody as soon as possible,” the officer said, according to ABC News.
Diaz said the team investigating the shooting “has an idea of who we’re looking for.”
“I’m saddened by the loss,” Diaz said, adding that “it shouldn’t have happened.”
“Keep this family in your prayers. Events like this should not happen in our community,” Diaz said.
Victim’s family ‘devastated’
Police reportedly added that the victim’s family is “devastated”.
The family has not yet publicly responded to the incident.
“A grandmother should not be here on the side of the street grieving for her child, for her grandchild. The mother is beside herself,” ABC News quoted police as saying.
A statement from the Houston Independent School District’s press department said “Secure” operations were underway at the high school during HPD’s investigation into the shooting. It is said that the teaching continued at the secondary school. Students could attend their lessons.
Meanwhile, the Texas Department of Public Safety will reportedly join the investigation alongside Houston police.
The previous shooting of a 15-year-old student outside a Spring ISD high school
This is the second school shooting in the Houston area. A 15-year-old boy died in a fatal shooting earlier this week on Wednesday. It happened outside of Spring High School ISD.
A 14-year-old youth was later taken into custody in this matter.
