DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF)- Dallas ISD is making strict policy changes after a shooting at a basketball game against South Oak Cliff and Kimball High Schools over the weekend. Starting Tuesday, no bags, backpacks, purses are allowed in stadiums for all sporting events moving forward. “We are also working with some people about weapon detection devices, create a task force and be more intentional about our interface with the gang intervention units,” said Superintendent Michael Hinojosa. The district will work harder to address gang-related issues in the future, though police say this shooting doesn’t appear to be a gang-related incident.
A 15-year-old Dallas ISD student was arrested in connection to the shooting after turning himself in. An 18-year-old boy is in critical condition after being shot in the chest and a Dallas Police Officer is recovering after being grazed by a bullet. “We are required now to really focus and take this matter very seriously…as seriously as we have taken these issues, it just wasn’t enough and we have to do more,” said Hinojosa.
Hinojosa thanks the DISD Police Department for it’s quick response and for the student’s willingness to identify a suspect. “Officers minimized the situation as much as they could, it could have been much worse,” said Hinojosa. “There were some brave individuals, there is this culture of ‘do not snitch’ but because of the media coverage and photographs, we had people identify the suspect almost immediately. We tell our students, if you see something, you say something and you do something. These students stepped up because they said ‘we cannot have this in our backyard’,” he said.
The game will resume and pick up where it left off at 2 pm Monday afternoon, it’s not open to the public but parents are invited to attend. “These are two historic programs, they are both in the top 20 in the state.. there was one minute and 30 seconds left in the game, that game will resume and we will be there so these students can finish this game that has very high stakes for them as they try to pursue a state basketball championship,” he said.
Hinojosa says counseling resources are available to all students.
Kimball HS & South Oak Cliff HS finishing the game that was cut short Saturday evening because of a shooting that left an 18-year-old in critical condition. Enhanced security and limited access into today’s game. @WBAP247NEWS @570KLIF pic.twitter.com/Cb5sqGsVvR
— Katrina Boonzaier (@katrinaboonz) January 13, 2020
South Oak Cliff takes win over Kimball HS. Teams played from the last minute and a half of the third quarter. I talked to family members at the game who are emotional but happy about Dallas ISD’s enhanced security at games moving forward. @WBAP247NEWS @WBAP247NEWS pic.twitter.com/Xds3A0pI1S
— Katrina Boonzaier (@katrinaboonz) January 13, 2020