An elderly man is behind bars after opening fire at a Texas Color Guard Circuit (TCGC) percussion competition Saturday evening at Pasadena Memorial High School. Authorities say the suspect walked into the event and fired a small-caliber handgun. The bullet struck a man, who was airlifted to a hospital and is currently in stable condition.
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Good Samaritan tackles suspect
A good Samaritan quickly tackled the shooter, with other attendees helping to disarm him. Security personnel and officers, already on-site at the event, swiftly took control of the situation.
Pasadena ISD response
Pasadena Independent School District (ISD) released a statement acknowledging what happened. The district clarified the suspect had no ties to the competition. They will be providing crisis counseling and additional security at campuses next week.
The statement read:
“This evening at Pasadena Memorial High School, an elderly male walked into the entrance to the auditorium during a drum line competition. He was in possession of a weapon and discharged it. The individual with the weapon was immediately tackled by a parent attending the event. Pasadena ISD Police, a civilian, and several good Samaritans immediately apprehended the suspect. One adult male victim was shot in the shoulder and transported to the hospital. At this time, we do not know his condition. The shooter was not affiliated with the band contest, and it is currently under investigation why he was on campus.”
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Katy ISD statement
Katy ISD, whose schools were part of the competition, informed parents that the shooting incident occurred near the event. The district confirmed that students and staff at the competition were not directly impacted by the shooting.
The district’s statement read:
“Dear Katy ISD Parents and Guardians,
This message is to notify you of a shooting incident tonight that occurred in Pasadena near the competition in which Jordan High School, Morton Ranch High School, and other district percussion teams were performing. Safety precautions were implemented immediately. Students at the performance were not impacted by the shooting. The event did, however, prompt some of our students and staff to shelter in a safe area at the competition location. All students and staff are safe and accounted for and have since boarded buses to return home. We applaud our students for calmly and quickly responding to the situation and practicing all safety protocols.”
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Investigation ongoing
The Pasadena Police Department is leading the investigation with assistance from Pasadena ISD Police.
