An 18-year-old male student met a tragic fate outside Bowie High School in Arlington on Wednesday, as disclosed by officials.
Upon responding to a report of shots fired outside the portable buildings on the campus around 2:50 p.m., Arlington Police Chief Al Jones found Etavion Barnes unresponsive on the ground.
Julian Howard, a 17-year-old student, was apprehended and charged with murder as per Arlington Jail records.
The suspect was promptly apprehended by officers not far from the school premises.
Initial investigations suggest a prior acquaintance between the suspect and victim, with authorities indicating that Howard specifically targeted Barnes.
During questioning, Howard exercised his right to remain silent in the absence of legal counsel, and no weapon has been recovered thus far.
Following a three-hour lockdown, authorities commenced the process of reuniting students with their families, establishing a reunification point at the Arlington ISD Athletics and Aquatics Center.
In light of the incident, classes were canceled for April 25, ensuring the safety of the school community.
The ATF was summoned to assist Arlington police in the ballistic examination, with Mansfield police also rendering support.
Concerned parents received news of the tragedy through text messages and endeavored to reach their children, illustrating the community’s distress.
As graduation nears, students expressed disbelief and hoped such violence would never touch their school.
Witnesses recounted the harrowing sounds of the incident to local news crews.
Despite legislative efforts to bolster school safety, recent events underscore shortcomings in funding and implementation.
Notably, this tragedy echoes previous incidents, including a recent shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School and a prior one at Timberview High School.
