Dallas, TX — April 15, 2025 — A 17-year-old student is in custody following a shooting Tuesday at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas that left four students injured and sent shockwaves through the community. Authorities have charged Tracy Haynes Jr. with four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly opened fire on a group of students in a school hallway.
Surveillance Footage Reveals Entry Through Unsecured Door
According to Dallas ISD police, surveillance video captured the suspect being let into the building by another student through a side door not monitored during standard entry hours. Once inside, Haynes is seen walking down a hallway before raising a gun and firing directly at a group of students. One victim appeared to be shot at point-blank range.
Dallas ISD Assistant Police Chief Christina Smith emphasized that the gun was not brought in during the school’s regular intake process, which includes metal detectors and backpack checks. “This was a breach of protocol by way of student access, not system failure,” Smith stated.
Victims Recovering, One Seriously Injured
The four male students injured in the shooting are between the ages of 15 and 18. Two were treated and released, while the other two remain hospitalized in stable condition. A fifth student, a 14-year-old girl, was treated for anxiety-related symptoms after the shooting but was not physically injured.
Emergency services responded within minutes, and the campus was placed on lockdown. Parents were later reunited with their children at the school’s stadium, where security was visibly heightened.
Suspect Surrendered Peacefully
Tracy Haynes Jr. turned himself in to authorities Tuesday evening. He is currently being held at the Dallas County Jail on a $600,000 bond. Investigators have not released a motive for the shooting, and officials have yet to confirm whether the victims were specifically targeted.
Community Shaken, Classes Cancelled
The Dallas Independent School District has announced that Wilmer-Hutchins High School will remain closed for the rest of the week. Counseling and crisis support services are being offered to students, faculty, and families affected by the tragedy.
Tuesday’s shooting is the second gun-related incident at the school in as many years. In April 2024, another student opened fire in a classroom, prompting further scrutiny of the school’s safety measures.
“Enough is enough,” said one parent at the reunification site. “Our kids should feel safe going to school. This isn’t normal, and it shouldn’t be.”
The Dallas ISD Police Department, in coordination with state officials, is continuing its investigation.
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