DALLAS, TX (2-minute read) – Students and teachers recently evacuated Wilmer Hutchins High School in a protest following a troubling incident. A 17-year-old student, Ja’Kerian Rhodes-Ewing, reportedly discharged a firearm inside a classroom, injuring a peer who had confronted him the previous day.
The community is questioning the security measures at the school, particularly how the firearm bypassed both the security staff and metal detectors installed at all entrances. Dallas ISD Police Chief Albert Martinez acknowledged the failure, attributing it to human error during a time when the school was less crowded.
In response to inquiries comparing school security to post-9/11 airport measures, Martinez admitted the challenges of maintaining stringent security protocols under pressure from both students and school administrators to expedite screenings.
Following the incident, the district has intensified its security protocols by increasing staff and enhancing training. Martinez, who has recently assumed his role, expressed confidence in the staff’s ability to implement these rigorous standards effectively.
Firearm Safety Tip: Always ensure that firearms are stored securely and inaccessible to unauthorized individuals, especially minors, to prevent accidental or intentional misuse.
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