Mesquite Police share videos of school shooting where officers fired 19 times

Mesquite Police have released body camera and surveillance footage of a shooting involving police officers and a 16-year-old student at the Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy on February 19.

According to Lt. Brandon Ricketts, the Mesquite Police received a call from a school administrator at 8:49 a.m., reporting that a student entered her office with a gun, threatened himself and others, and refused to disarm.

Upon arrival, officers found the administrator speaking to the student, who had placed the gun on the floor and was seated on a couch in the office.

Negotiations ensued between the officers and the student, with the officers urging him to discuss the situation and emphasizing their desire to help him.

During the interaction, the student was observed on both CCTV and body camera footage reaching for the gun, prompting one of the officers to fire three shots.

As the situation escalated, the student stood up with the gun raised in a shooter’s stance when officers opened the door. Subsequently, three officers fired at the student.

Following the incident, the student was taken into custody, and it was revealed that he sustained a leg injury from the shooting. He was briefly hospitalized and released the same day.

The recovered handgun, a Rossi .38 Special, was displayed by Mesquite Police along with five rounds. Investigations revealed the student’s intent to harm others upon arriving at the school.

The student, whose identity remains undisclosed due to his age, faces multiple charges including aggravated assault against a public servant and exhibition of a firearm. He is currently held at a juvenile detention facility.

PTAA Superintendent Shubham Pandey commended the administrators and responding officers for their professionalism and courage during the incident, ensuring the safety of students and staff.

The names of the involved officers have been withheld. Mesquite Police noted that one officer has 8 years of experience, another has 5 years, and the third, a recent department transfer, has 5 years of policing experience.

The department’s investigation will be forwarded to the Dallas County District Attorney for review, and an independent investigation by the DA’s office is underway. Additionally, the department’s internal affairs unit is conducting an investigation to ensure compliance with department policies.