An ex-student stormed into a Texas high school armed with a rifle and shot the principal in the back, according to authorities.
As reported by The Sun, Dexter Kelsey was named as the suspect in the shooting at YES Prep Southwest in Houston on Friday, October 1.
The Houston Police Department responded to calls about the shooting at YES Prep Southwest Secondary in Houston, Texas, at 11:45 AM local time.
Kesley, 25, was reportedly carrying a rifle when he broke into the school through its locked entry windows. After entering the building, he allegedly shot Principal Eric Espinoza in the back.
The wounded principal was later rushed to the Medical Center in downtown Houston to undergo emergency surgery. Despite his serious condition, Espinosa is expected to survive.
It is believed that Kelsey surrendered to police at the scene.
"When I was coming out, I saw blood and glass shattering everywhere," one 7th grader told ABC 13. "My teachers told me to stay back in the classroom where nobody can see you and officers came, saying 'Put your hands up. Go outside.'"
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told the outlet: "I don’t think any kid or anybody should witness this but it’s the world we live in."
The situation was much calmer by about 2 PM, which is when parents came to collect their kids as armed officers continued to investigate the building.
In a Facebook post by YES Prep Southwest Secondary, it was revealed that no students were injured in the shooting.
The school wrote: "ATTENTION FAMILIES: Police are on campus with a suspect in custody who opened fire inside the school.
"No students have been injured. Students have been transported to W. Fuqua and Hiram Clarke, where they can be picked up.
"Please do not drive to the school; roads are blocked by Houston Police Department. We are gathering information and will pass along as soon as we can."
The school also stated that classes would be deferred until next Thursday due to the shooting.
YES is a charter school for students in the 6th to 12th grades. There are more than 1,000 kids at the school.