A 15-year-old student at a high school in Dalhart, Texas, has died after being wounded in an accidental shooting in a vehicle in the school’s parking lot.
The Amarillo Globe-News reports that Preston Ralston, a student at Dalhart High School, was gravely injured Monday when a gun accidentally discharged.
The Dalhart school district said in a statement that a child not enrolled at the district came to Dalhart High School at lunchtime and picked up three Dalhart High School students. Preston was wounded when a firearm accidentally discharged in the vehicle. No other injuries were reported.
“Out of respect for the families, our students, faculty, and everyone involved, we are asking for your understanding as law enforcement will not answer specific questions until a thorough investigation has been completed,” the district’s statement said.
The statement also included a comment from Preston’s family: “We want everyone to know this was an accident. We want those involved to know that we know this was an accident.”
Dalhart is about 70 miles northwest of Amarillo.
