A Texas principal is being hailed a hero for stopping a school shooting after a former student entered the school with a gun. According to CBSDFW, 25-year-old Dexter Kelsey walked into YES Prep Southwest Secondary with a gun on October 1.
After spotting Kelsey, YES Prep Southwest Secondary Principal Eric Espinosa began making his rounds in an attempt to notify his teachers. During his attempt to keep his staff and students safe from harm’s way, Espinosa was shot by Kelsey, who shot through the school’s glass door to gain entry.
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Kelsey had a rifle on his person. Espinosa was struck by one of the bullets in his lower back.
Once first responders arrived, Kelsey was apprehended and Espinosa was taken to the hospital. Thankfully, the principal was treated and has already been released from the hospital.
And no students were hurt. However, students who were involved that day did take to TikTok to reveal what it was like.
Students who were inside YES Prep captured videos of officers escorting them safely out of the building after the school shooter had been apprehended.
This particular video has over 1.4 million likes and 6.1 million views. In an interview with ABC 13, one seventh-grade student explained what he saw while being escorted out of the school.
“When I was coming out, I saw blood and glass shattering everywhere,” one 7th grader said. “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.'”
More than 1,000 students are enrolled at YES Prep. As CBSDFW revealed, Kelsey was once a student at the school and graduated in 2017.
Kelsey has since been charged with aggravated assault against a public servant and deadly conduct in the shooting, Houston police revealed. YES Prep has canceled classes through Wednesday.
“We cannot imagine the terror you must have felt as the events unfolded. [Friday’s] shocking incident is one that no student, parent, or educator should ever have to go through or cope with on their own. We have counselors standing by to help anyone needing support over the weekend, next week, and through the school year,” the school said in a statement, according to ABC 13.
It is unclear if Espinosa will also be back as principal on Wednesday despite being released from the hospital. The reasons for Kelsey’s actions are not immediately clear.
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