Galveston County Sheriff's Office
dimitrios

10 people killed in shooting attack at Santa Fe, Texas, high school

May 18, 2018
A 17-year-old suspect is in custody; explosive devices found at school and elsewhere

Ten people have been killed when a student opened fire Friday morning inside Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas

KHOU-TV in Houston reports that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed that 10 people have died in the attack that occurred Friday morning. Another 10 people were injured, including a school district police officer, who is in critical condition, Abbott says.

The suspected shooter has been identified as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17. He is in custody at the Santa Fe Police Department.

The shooter opened fire in an art classroom. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told reporters most of those who lost their lives were students.

The Santa Fe Independent School District says authorities have found explosive devices at the school and off campus.

Abbott said at a news conference that the attacker was armed with a shotgun and a .38-caliber revolver. The shooter's father is believed to be the owner of the weapons.

Police also were working to find and defuse several explosive devices that are believed to have been left in homes and vehicles.

KTRK-TV reports that a suspect has been taken into custody.

Abbott says that police have recovered journals and other information on the attacker's cell phone that spell out his intention to carry out the attack. The material also indicated that he had planned to commit suicide before he could be arrested.

Investigators also are interviewing two other persons of interest, including one person who was at the scene of the attack who "may have had some level of involvement in the crime," Abbott says.

[RELATED: Statement from Santa Fe School Superintendent Leigh Wall]

Witnesses say the shooting took place in an art class on campus between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. Central Daylight Time.

Sophomore Leila Butler says that at about 7:45 a.m. fire alarms went off and students left their classrooms.

Three injured persons were being treated at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. A Santa Fe Independent School District police officer was in critical condition and was undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound in his upper arm. An adult woman was wounded in the leg and is in good condition. A boy under the age of 18 was shot in the leg and is in good condition.

Santa Fe is about 35 miles southeast of Houston. According to the Texas Education Agency, the enrollment at Santa Fe High is about 1,400 students.

About the Author

Mike Kennedy | Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy, senior editor, has written for AS&U on a wide range of educational issues since 1999.

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