A former student fired a rifle through the locked front door of a Houston school Friday — then shot an administrator, cops said.
The unidentified ex-student, who is 25, showed up at YES Prep Southwest Secondary in Houston around 11:45 a.m., opening fire with a rifle, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said at a news briefing.
“I think that once the suspect fired through that glass window and came in, I was told that he immediately fired a gun at that gentleman,” Finner said, referring to the victim.
The administrator, who was shot in the back and not identified, was taken to a local hospital, where he was in serious condition, the chief said.
It didn’t appear that the shooter targeted the employee, Finner said.
“I don’t think he confronted him,” Finner told reporters.
Police swept the school to ensure there were no other gunmen after the shooter surrendered, the police chief said.
“I’m really proud of the quick response of the officers,” he said. “It could have been a lot worse.
“No students are hurt, we’re praying for the employee of the school,” he added. “I think that’s a good day, I think it’s a good day, considering.”
Students left the building with their hands in the air later as the building was secured, The Associated Press reported.
The school, which serves students in sixth grade through high school, told parents in a statement that their children could be picked up at an off-site location.
“Police are on the YES Prep Southwest Secondary campus with a suspect in custody after opening fire from the school’s front entry,” the statement said. “No students were involved in the incident or were injured.”
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